Induction of Olfactory Receptor Sensitivity in Mice
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Abstract
In 1989, Wysocki, Dorries, and Beauchamp [1] reported that exposure to the odorant androstenone induced olfactory sensitivity to that odorant in individuals that could not perceive the odor of androstenone previously. This striking observation challenged the existing view that specific anosmia is a genetic defect, analogous to color blindness. To investigate the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying olfactory induction, we attempted to observe induction using electro-olfactogram (EOG) recordings from mice. If successful, this would establish an animal model for studying induction and would also demonstrate that induction occurs, at least in part, at the receptor cell level. We also attempted to observe induction with two odorants, androstenone and isovaleric acid, to determine if induction is a general phenomenon. A detailed description of our results has appeared recently [2].