Olfactory stimulants

Sorensen P.W., Hara T.J., Stacey N.E. and Goetz F. (1988). F-prostaglandins function as potent olfactory stimulants that comprise the post-ovulatory female sex pheromone in goldfish. Biol Reprod 39, 1039-1050. 

Graham, L., Wells, D.L. and Hepper, P.G. (2005) The influence of olfactory stimulation on the behaviour of dogs housed in a rescue shelter. App. Anim. Behav. Sci. 91, 143-153. 

Schaal B., Montagner H., Herding E., Bolzoni D., Moyse R., and Quichon R. (1980). [Olfactory stimulations in mother-infant relations], Reprod. Nutr. Dev. 20, 843-858. 

Since the early 90s, noninvasive functional brain imaging of humans using NIR methods have been slowly gaining momentum despite existence of more established imaging modailties, such as PET, fMRI, and EEG. Part of the reason as stated previously, is because of its relatively high temporal resolution and its ability to monitor multiple tissue chromophores. The technique has been applied to adult as well as infant studies. NIR method is particularly suited for infant studies as the equipment, at least the CW kind, are minimally restraining, relatively safe, and portable [67]. Most neonatal studies focus on sensory stimulation such as visual, auditory and olfactory stimulations [69] [101] [89] [115] [6] [5], and cerebral disfunction [70, 71]. Our review will focus primarily on adult studies with some emphasis on defense and security applications. 

The response of vertebrates to olfactory stimulation is affected by previous experience but behaviour can be specifically affected by odours (pheromones) (4). The olfactory system has been shown to detect specific components within complex mixtures and analytical chemistry techniques have been used to identify these active components (5). We have assessed the application of these methods to the problems of agricultural odours in an attempt to develop techniques applicable to both slurries and air samples. The identification of the odorous components might allow specific treatment methods to be developed. In addition, the designation of a range of indicator compounds might be useful in practice for monitoring abatement of odour nuisances. 

Laffort, P. and Dravnieks, A. An approach to a physico-chemical model of olfactory stimulation in vertebrates by single compounds, J. Theor. Biol, 38 335-345, 1973. 

Response of the rat fetus to olfactory stimulation presented in utero. Society of Neuroscience 13,8l. 

Sorensen, P. W., Scott, A. P., Stacey, N. E., and Bowdin, L., Sulfated 17a,20P-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one functions as a potent and specific olfactory stimulant with pheromonal actions in the goldfish, Gen. Comp. Endocrinol., 100, 128, 1995. 

In all systems studied thus far, olfactory-stimulated signal transduction is mediated by G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) pathways involving the synthesis of second messengers such as cyclic AMP (cAMP) and/or inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate (IP3) (Boekhoff et al., 1994 Reed, 1992). Moreover, several proteins that are involved in fundamental aspects of olfactory signal transduction have... 

Tertiary pheromonal blends have been identified in two noctuid moths. The red bollworm, Diparopsis castanea, emits dodecyl acetate, (E)-9-dodecenyl acetate, 11-dodecenyl acetate, and (E)-9,ll-dodecadienyl acetate as a sex pheromone, whereas Spodoptera littoral is utilizes a blend made up of tetradecyl acetate, (E)-9-tetradecenyl acetate, (E)-ll-tetradecenyl acetate, and (Z,E)-9,ll-tetradecadieny1 acetate (89). For both species, the conjugated dienes are the most potent olfactory stimulants. 

Metcalf RL et al (1975) Attraction of the oriental fruit fly, Dacus dorsalis, to methyl eugenol and related olfactory stimulants. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 72 2501-2505 Mombaerts P et al (2004) Genes and ligands for odorant, vomeronasal and taste receptors. Nat Rev Neurosci 5 263-278... 

Leveteau, J. and MacLeod, P. (1969) Reciprocal inhibition at glomerular level during bilateral olfactory stimulation In C. Pfaffman (Ed ), Olfaction and Taste, HI, pp. 212-215. Rockefeller University Press, New York. 

Workers exposed to di- -butyl phthalate for 0.5-19 years at concentrations of 1.7-66 mg/m experienced neurological symptoms (pain, numbness, spasms, weakness) and exhibited reflex disturbances, elevated thresholds for pain sensitivity and olfactory stimulation, and depression of vestibular function (Milkov et al. 1973). The frequency and severity of these effects increased with increased duration of exposure. The workers were also exposed to other plasticizers, so these neurological effects may not have been caused by di- -butyl phthalate exposure. 

The relationship of other physicochemical properties to these spaces was examined as well. All of the stimuli were ether soluble, suggesting that fat (ether) solubility may be a necessary requirement for olfactory stimulation to occur. No specific trends were found for the number of double bonds, dipole moments. 

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