title: Functional deficits produced by 3-methylindole-induced olfactory mucosal damage revealed by a simple olfactory learning task.
abstract: Methods for assessing functional consequences of olfactory mucosal damage were examined in rats exposed to 3-methylindole (3-MI). Treatment with 3-MI (400 mg/kg) induced severe degeneration of olfactory sensory epithelium followed by regeneration, fibrous adhesions, and osseous remodeling of the nasal passages. At 100 mg/kg, there was mild Bowman's gland hypertrophy while the sensory epithelium remained intact. Rats receiving 3-MI demonstrated a treatment-related deficit in acquiring an olfactory learning task which was not due to altered cognitive abilities, as determined by subsequent testing in a step-through passive avoidance task. The results confirm the conclusion that alterations in functional indices resulted from 3-MI-induced anosmia and demonstrate the utility of simple learning tasks in assessing functional capacity following olfactory epithelial damage in rats.
authors.affiliation: NSI-Environmental Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina.
authors.forename: D B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Peele
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Allison
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bolon
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Prah
authors.forename: K F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.forename: K T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Morgan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D007858:Learning / Q000187:drug effects*; D008168:Lung / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D009831:Olfactory Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D009832:Olfactory Nerve / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D012862:Skatole / Q000633:toxicity*; D014785:Vision, Ocular / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D012862:Skatole