| Author(s): | Bjering S; Deinboll II; Maehlen J; |
| Address: | "Patologisk-anatomisk avdeling, Ulleval sykehus, 0407 Oslo. jan.mahlen@ioks.uio.no" |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 0029-2001 (Print) 0029-2001 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "BACKGROUND: In mammals, olfactory stimuli influence various aspects of life including feeding, social behaviour, and reproduction. METHODS: We review the progress in olfactory research in the last decade. RESULTS: In this era of gene-based techniques, a breakthrough in our knowledge on odorant and pheromone detection has occurred. Most importantly, a large gene family of odorant receptors expressed in the olfactory epithelium has been discovered. Subsets of receptor cells express one and only one receptor type and send their axons to a corresponding glomerulus in the olfactory bulb, giving rise to an odor-specific map in this structure. Two gene families of pheromone receptors expressed in the vomeronasal organ have also been discovered, and a role of pheromones in mammalian reproduction has been established. INTERPRETATION: Although the crucial steps in odorant binding and transduction to nerve signals have been revealed, the central processing of this sensory information is basically unknown. Moreover, whether pheromones serve a significant role in human behaviour is still an open question" |
| Keywords: | "Animals Famous Persons France History, 18th Century History, 19th Century History, 20th Century Humans Literature, Modern/history Mammals Medicine in Literature Odorants Olfactory Mucosa/physiology *Olfactory Pathways/anatomy & histology/physiology Pherom;" |
| Notes: | "MedlineBjering, S Deinboll, I I Maehlen, J nor Biography Historical Article Portrait Norway 2001/02/24 Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen. 2000 Dec 10; 120(30):3719-25" |
