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Updated: Jul 3, 2026

Real-time In Vitro Monitoring of Odorant Receptor Activation by an Odorant in the Vapor Phase
Published on: April 23, 2019
Linalool inhalation‒induced anxiety-like effects occur independently of olfactory input and require cytochrome P450
Hideaki Sato1, Ami Oguro1, Masatsugu Miyara1
1Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University.
Abstract:
Multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) is characterized by neuropsychological symptoms including anxiety, depression, and fatigue following exposure to environmental chemicals, yet its underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Linalool, a monoterpene alcohol widely used in consumer products, has been suggested as a potential contributor to MCS. To elucidate its neural effects, we examined the behavioral effects of linalool inhalation in mice. Linalool exposure induced both anxiety- and depression-like behaviors. While the depression-like behavior required olfactory input, the anxiety-like behavior occurred independently of olfactory perception. Our previous studies demonstrated that inhaled linalool accumulates in the brain and undergoes cytochrome P450 (P450)-dependent metabolism. We therefore tested whether P450-mediated metabolism contributes to the behavioral effects of linalool. Significantly, inhibition of P450 activity abolished the anxiety-like behavior. These findings reveal an olfactory-independent mechanism by which inhaled linalool induces anxiety-like behavior in mice and suggest that P450 activity is required for this effect, providing a basis for investigating fragrance-induced MCS-like neurobehavioral responses.
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