| Title: | Comparison of odor and mating-induced glomerular activation in the main olfactory bulb of estrous female ferrets |
| Author(s): | Batterton MN; Robarts D; Woodley SK; Baum MJ; |
| Address: | "Department of Biology, Boston University, 5 Cummington St., Boston, MA 02215, USA" |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.neulet.2006.02.062 |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 0304-3940 (Print) 0304-3940 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "Previously [S.K. Woodley, M.J. Baum, Differential activation of glomeruli in the ferret's main olfactory bulb by anal scent gland odors from males and females: an early step in mate identification, Eur. J. Neurosci. 20 (2004) 1025-1032], the receipt of intromission from a male activated glomeruli (indexed by Fos immunoreactivity in juxtaglomerular cells) in the main olfactory bulb (MOB) of estrous female ferrets which exceeded the activation seen after exposure to male anal scent gland odorants alone. We asked whether centrifugal inputs (e.g., from the locus coeruleus to the MOB) generated by the receipt of vaginal-cervical stimulation influence odor-induced MOB glomerular activation. We compared the activation of MOB glomeruli in estrous female ferrets which received a unilateral naris occlusion prior to exposure to: unscented air, volatile odorants from an anesthetized male, volatile + non-volatile odorants from direct physical contact with an anesthetized male, or mating stimulation. Little glomerular activation was observed in the MOB ipsilateral to an occluded naris, including females which received intromission. An equivalent distribution of activated glomeruli was observed in the ventral MOB of estrous females which either received mating stimulation or had direct physical contact with an anesthetized male. Considerably less glomerular activation occurred in females exposed only to volatile male odors. The MOB of female ferrets responded to body odorants from the opposite sex; however, there was no evidence that mating-induced centrifugal inputs directly activated MOB glomeruli or modified odor-induced glomerular activation" |
| Keywords: | "Action Potentials/drug effects/*physiology Animals Estrus/*physiology Female Ferrets/*physiology Male *Odorants Olfactory Bulb/drug effects/*physiology Sex Attractants/*administration & dosage Sexual Behavior, Animal/drug effects/*physiology Smell/*physio;" |
| Notes: | "MedlineBatterton, M N Robarts, D Woodley, S K Baum, M J eng DC00426/DC/NIDCD NIH HHS/ HD21094/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/ Comparative Study Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural Ireland 2006/03/15 Neurosci Lett. 2006 Jun 12; 400(3):224-9. doi: 10.1016/j.neulet.2006.02.062. Epub 2006 Mar 10" |
