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Keio J Med

Title:		Function of gonadotropin-releasing hormone in olfaction
Author(s):		Wirsig-Wiechmann CR;
Address:		"Department of Cell Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 940 SL Young Boulevard, Oklahoma City, OK 73190, USA. celeste-wirsig@ouhsc.edu"
Journal Title:		Keio J Med
Year:		2001
Volume:		50
Issue:		2
Page Number:		81 - 85
DOI:		10.2302/kjm.50.81
ISSN/ISBN:		0022-9717 (Print) 0022-9717 (Linking)
Abstract:		"Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) is present within neurons of the nervus terminalis, the zeroeth cranial nerve. In all vertebrate species, except in sharks where it is a separate nerve, the nervus terminalis consists of a chain of neurons embedded within olfactory or vomeronasal nerves in the nasal cavity. The function of the GnRH component of the nervus terminalis is thought to be neuromodulatory. Our research on GnRH effects on olfaction confirms this hypothesis. The processes of GnRH neural cell bodies located within chemosensory nerves project centrally into the ventral forebrain and peripherally into the lamina propria of the nasal chemosensory mucosa. GnRH receptors are expressed by chemosensory neurons as shown by RT-PCR/Southern blotting and GnRH agonist binding studies. Patch-clamp studies have shown that GnRH alters the responses of isolated chemosensory neurons to natural or electrophysiological stimulation through the modulation of voltage-gated and receptor-gated channels. Behavioral experiments demonstrate that interfering with the nasal GnRH system leads to deficits in mating behavior. These studies suggest that the function of the intranasal GnRH system is to modify olfactory information, perhaps at reproductively auspicious times. We speculate that the purpose of this altered olfactory sense is to make pheromones more detectable and salient"
Keywords:		"Animals Chemoreceptor Cells/physiology Electrophysiology Female Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone/*physiology Humans Male Models, Neurological Nasal Cavity/innervation Reproduction/physiology Smell/*physiology;"
Notes:		"MedlineWirsig-Wiechmann, C R eng NS27586/NS/NINDS NIH HHS/ Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S. Review Japan 2001/07/14 Keio J Med. 2001 Jun; 50(2):81-5. doi: 10.2302/kjm.50.81"