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Induced Peripheral Sensitivity in the Developing Vertebrate Olfactory System
Author(s) -
HUDSON ROBYN,
DISTEL HANS
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1998.tb10552.x
Subject(s) - odor , neuroscience , juniper , olfactory system , olfaction , peripheral , olfactory receptor cell , weanling , biology , sensory system , olfactory receptor , medicine , ecology , endocrinology
The high dimensionality and unpredictability of the chemical world makes it difficult for the olfactory system to anticipate relevant stimuli and construct neural filters accordingly. A developmental solution to this problem would be to alter the sensory surface according to environmental conditions so as to enhance sensitivity to molecules of particular relevance. Evidence for this has been obtained in the rabbit. By feeding pregnant does aromatic juniper berries, it could be shown that newborn, weanling and even adult animals demonstrate a preference for juniper odor without subsequent postnatal experience, and that this is associated with enhanced peripheral sensitivity for juniper odor as measured by electro‐olfactogram (EOG). This is consistent with the report that in young salmon olfactory imprinting is associated with enhanced, odor‐specific sensitivity of receptor cells as measured by patch clamp. The mechanisms underlying such changes are unknown, including the extent to which they are a particular feature of developing systems.