Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 2, 2026

Odorant-induced Responses Recorded from Olfactory Receptor Neurons using the Suction Pipette Technique
08:08

Odorant-induced Responses Recorded from Olfactory Receptor Neurons using the Suction Pipette Technique

Published on: April 5, 2012

Suppression of odorant responses by odorants in olfactory receptor cells

T Kurahashi1, G Lowe, G H Gold

  • 1Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia, PA 19104.

Science (New York, N.Y.)
|July 1, 1994
PubMed

Insights

Odorants can suppress currents in olfactory receptor cells, explaining long response delays and "off responses." This suppression mechanism may sharpen odorant specificity and mask responses.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Olfactory receptor cell physiology

Background:

  • Vertebrate olfactory receptor cells generate an inward current upon odorant activation.
  • Existing models do not fully explain olfactory transduction latency or off-responses.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate a novel odorant-induced current suppression mechanism in newt olfactory receptor cells.
  • To determine if this suppression explains specific olfactory response phenomena.

Main Methods:

  • Electrophysiological recordings from newt olfactory receptor cells.
  • Stimulation with various odorants to observe current changes.

Main Results:

  • Odorants were found to suppress the inward current, independent of inhibition and adaptation.
  • This suppression mechanism offers a unified explanation for long olfactory transduction latencies.
  • Suppression accounts for the observed 'off response' following prolonged odorant stimulation.

Conclusions:

  • A distinct odorant-induced current suppression mechanism exists in olfactory receptor cells.
  • Suppression impacts olfactory transduction timing and response dynamics.
  • This mechanism may refine odor perception by masking and sharpening cellular responses.

More Related Videos

Perforated Patch-clamp Recording of Mouse Olfactory Sensory Neurons in Intact Neuroepithelium: Functional Analysis of Neurons Expressing an Identified Odorant Receptor10:16

Perforated Patch-clamp Recording of Mouse Olfactory Sensory Neurons in Intact Neuroepithelium: Functional Analysis of Neurons Expressing an Identified Odorant Receptor

Published on: July 13, 2015

Real-time In Vitro Monitoring of Odorant Receptor Activation by an Odorant in the Vapor Phase09:53

Real-time In Vitro Monitoring of Odorant Receptor Activation by an Odorant in the Vapor Phase

Published on: April 23, 2019

Related Concept Videos

Olfaction01:25

Olfaction

The sense of smell is achieved through the activities of the olfactory system. It starts when an airborne odorant enters the nasal cavity and reaches olfactory epithelium (OE). The OE is protected by a thin layer of mucus, which also serves the purpose of dissolving more complex compounds into simpler chemical odorants. The size of the OE and the density of sensory neurons varies among species; in humans, the OE is only about 9-10 cm2.
The olfactory receptors are embedded in the cilia of the...
G-Protein Gated Ion Channels01:21

G-Protein Gated Ion Channels

GPCRs are primarily responsible for our sense of smell, taste, and vision.  The binding of a sensory stimulus activates GPCR to stimulate effector proteins, many of which are ion channels in the sensory organs. GPCRs modulate the opening and closing of the target ion channels either directly by binding them, or by releasing second messengers that activate these channels. As ions move across the membrane, the membrane potential is altered, which induces an appropriate response.
Sensory organs,...
The Physiology of Taste01:24

The Physiology of Taste

The perception of a salty flavor is facilitated by sodium ions within the oral salivary fluid. Upon consumption of a salty substance, salt crystals disassemble, leading to the liberation of its constituents—Na+ and Cl- ions. These ions subsequently dissolve into the salivary fluid present in the oral cavity. The external environment of the gustatory cells experiences an elevation in Na+ concentration, thereby establishing a potent concentration gradient. This gradient propels the diffusion of...
Opioid Receptors: Overview01:22

Opioid Receptors: Overview

Opioid receptors, including the mu (μ, MOR), delta (δ, DOR), and kappa (κ, KOR) types, belong to the rhodopsin family of G protein-coupled receptors. These receptors are located throughout the central and peripheral nervous systems and in non-neuronal tissues such as macrophages and astrocytes. Opioid receptor ligands can be categorized into agonists or antagonists. Highly selective agonists include [d-Ala2, MePhe4, Gly(ol)5]-enkephalin or DAMGO for MOR, [D-Pen2, D-Pen5]-enkephalin or DPDPE for...
Tactile and Chemical Senses01:27

Tactile and Chemical Senses

Tactile senses encompass touch, temperature, and pain, each mediated by specific receptors. Touch receptors detect mechanical energy or pressure against the skin. Sensory fibers from these receptors enter the spinal cord and relay information to the brain stem. Here, most fibers cross over to the opposite side of the brain. The touch information then moves to the thalamus, which projects a map of the body's surface onto the somatosensory areas of the parietal lobes in the cerebral cortex. This...
Repressible Operon: trp Operon01:21

Repressible Operon: trp Operon

The trp operon in Escherichia coli exemplifies a repressible operon. It regulates the synthesis of tryptophan through repressor-mediated transcriptional control and attenuation. This dual regulatory mechanism ensures tryptophan biosynthesis occurs only when needed, conserving cellular resources.Structure of the trp OperonThe trp operon consists of five structural genes (trpE, trpD, trpC, trpB, and trpA) that encode enzymes for tryptophan biosynthesis. These genes are transcribed as a single...