The ability of various chemicals to elicit olfactory beta-waves in the pyriform cortex of meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus) and laboratory rats (Rattus norvegicus).
Previous research has shown that, in freely moving laboratory rats, the odors of benzyl alcohol, camphor, carvacrol, isopentenyl methyl sulfide, 2-propylthietane, salicylaldehyde, trimethylthiazoline, and xylene (plus other compounds) elicit high amplitude bursts of roughly 20-Hz waves (beta-waves) in the olfactory bulb and pyriform cortex. Since all these compounds are effective antifeedants in a variety of small herbivores, a more extensive test of the effect of the odor of a variety of antifeedants on pyriform cortex activity in meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus) was undertaken. A beta-wave response was reliably elicited in the vole pyriform cortex by the odors of isopentenyl methyl sulfide (a component of fox odor), 2-propyl thietane (a component of stoat odor), and xylene but not by the odors of 29 other compounds. The results indicate: (a) that there are clear interspecific differences in the olfactory reactions of the pyriform cortex and (b) that not all antifeedants elicit beta-waves in the pyriform cortex.
Vanderwolf
C H
CH
Department of Psychology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, N6A 5C2, Canada. dchirila@julian.uwo.ca
Zibrowski
E M
EM
Wakarchuk
D
D
D000447:Aldehydes; D000818:Animals; D003411:Arvicolinae; D019905:Benzyl Alcohol; D002164:Camphor; D000081007:Cymenes; D004594:Electrophysiology; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D039821:Monoterpenes; D009812:Odorants; D009830:Olfactory Bulb / Q000502:physiology; D009833:Olfactory Pathways / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D012903:Smell / Q000502:physiology*; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical; D013729:Terpenes; D014992:Xylenes
D000447:Aldehydes; D000081007:Cymenes; D039821:Monoterpenes; D013729:Terpenes; D014992:Xylenes; C013243:salicylaldehyde; D002164:Camphor; C073316:carvacrol; D019905:Benzyl Alcohol