Effect of odor composition and environment on olfactory receptor potential of the fly
Kay, R.E.
American Journal of Physiology 220(5): 1473-1480
1971
ISSN/ISBN: 0002-9513 PMID: 5574667 Document Number: 40879
The effects of various factors on olfactory reception in intact adults of Lucilia sericata (Mg.) were studied by inserting electrodes into receptors in olfactory pits in the antennae and recording the potentials before and during exposure to the odour of alkanes, camphor and other organic compounds. Temperature affected the magnitude of the response and also the wave form. Two odours presented together exhibited mutual interference. The response was completely reversible during repeated short exposures to an odour, reaching identical resting and stimulated levels throughout. Prolonged exposure to a given odour concentration caused a relatively constant deviation from the unstimulated response, regardless of whether it had been preceded by exposure to a different concentration or to no odour. This shows that the processes responsible for the receptor potential are completely reversible and are capable of existing in several steady-state levels determined by the odour in the environment.