title: The ability of various chemicals to elicit olfactory beta-waves in the pyriform cortex of meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus) and laboratory rats (Rattus norvegicus).
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, N6A 5C2, Canada. dchirila@julian.uwo.ca
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Vanderwolf
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Zibrowski
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wakarchuk
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000447:Aldehydes; D000081007:Cymenes; D039821:Monoterpenes; D013729:Terpenes; D014992:Xylenes; C013243:salicylaldehyde; D002164:Camphor; C073316:carvacrol; D019905:Benzyl Alcohol