Home | Help | Feedback | Subscriptions | Archive | Search | Table of Contents

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF, 156K) PPT slides of all figures Alert me when this article is cited Citation Map Services Email this article Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new content in the JGP Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via CrossRef Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Iida, A. Articles by Kashiwayanagi, M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Iida, A. Articles by Kashiwayanagi, M. Social Bookmarking                            What's this?

Original Article

^a From the Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060, Japan
Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0812, Japan.Fax: +81-11-706-4991;

yanagi{at}hucc.hokudai.ac.jp

Using the whole-cell mode of the patch-clamp technique, we recorded action potentials, voltage-activated cationic currents, and inward currents in response to water-soluble and volatile odorants from receptor neurons in the lateral diverticulum (water nose) of the olfactory sensory epithelium of Xenopus laevis. The resting membrane potential was –46.5 ± 1.2 mV , and a current injection of 1–3 pA induced overshooting action potentials. Under voltage-clamp conditions, a voltage-dependent Na⁺ inward current, a sustained outward K⁺ current, and a Ca²⁺-activated K⁺ current were identified. Application of an amino acid cocktail induced inward currents in 32 of 238 olfactory neurons in the lateral diverticulum under voltage-clamp conditions. Application of volatile odorant cocktails also induced current responses in 23 of 238 olfactory neurons. These results suggest that the olfactory neurons respond to both water-soluble and volatile odorants. The application of alanine or arginine induced inward currents in a dose-dependent manner. More than 50% of the single olfactory neurons responded to multiple types of amino acids, including acidic, neutral, and basic amino acids applied at 100 µM or 1 mM. These results suggest that olfactory neurons in the lateral diverticulum have receptors for amino acids and volatile odorants.

Key Words: olfactory receptor neuron • odor response • voltage-clamp • action potential • amino acid

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Facebook    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

Home | Help | Feedback | Subscriptions | Archive | Search | Table of Contents