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Receptors of the Olfactory System

Faizan Kalwar. Receptors of the Olfactory System. Nasal Epithelium. Cell Functions. Basal cells – replace receptor neurons (a feature unique to the olfactory neurons) Sustenacular cells – scattered throughout epithelium, secretory granules empty contents on mucosal surface

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Receptors of the Olfactory System

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  1. Faizan Kalwar Receptors of the Olfactory System

  2. Nasal Epithelium

  3. Cell Functions Basal cells – replace receptor neurons (a feature unique to the olfactory neurons) Sustenacular cells – scattered throughout epithelium, secretory granules empty contents on mucosal surface Receptor neurons

  4. Olfactory Receptor Neurons (ORNs) - Humans have ~40 million - Bipolar neurons - Dendrites extend into mucosal surface -Cilia on surface of dendritic knobs -Receptors on cilia make contact with odorants -One receptor for each neuron - Axons lead into glomerus

  5. Molecular basis of ORNs -Odor molecule binds to receptor protein on surface of cilia -Receptor conformation changes  activates G-protein (Golf) -Adenylate cyclase activation produces cAMP -cAMP opens ion channels  Na+ and Ca2+ enter - Depolarization occurs at dendritic region which leads to generation of an action potential

  6. Characteristics of ORNs -Activation of multiple receptors allows molecules that have never been encountered to be characterized -ORNs are sensitive to a subset of odorants which makeup its tuning curve - Some ORNs are very selective while others are much broader -Different thresholds exist for a given odorant between neurons with the same receptor - Adaptations occur

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