title: Dopamine D(2) receptor activation modulates perceived odor intensity.
abstract: Dopaminergic modulation affects odor detection thresholds and olfactory discrimination capabilities in rats. The authors show that dopamine D(2) receptor modulation affects odor discrimination capabilities in a manner similar to the modulation of stimulus intensity. Performance in a simultaneous odor discrimination task was systematically altered by manipulations of both odorant concentration and D(2) receptor activation (agonist quinpirole, 0.025-0.5 mg/kg; antagonist spiperone, 0.5 mg/kg). Rats' discrimination performance systematically improved at higher odor concentrations. Blockade of D(2) receptors improved performance equivalent to increasing odor concentration by 2 log units, whereas activation of D(2) receptors reduced odor discrimination performance in a dose-dependent manner. Bulbar dopamine release may serve a gain control function in the olfactory system, optimizing its sensitivity to changes in the chemosensory environment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
authors.forename: Catherine J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Christiane
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Linster
authors.forename: Thomas A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Cleland
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D004192:Discrimination, Psychological / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D065127:Dopamine D2 Receptor Antagonists; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D008297:Male; D009812:Odorants; D019257:Quinpirole / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2 / Q000819:agonists / Q000502:physiology*; D012684:Sensory Thresholds / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D013134:Spiperone / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D065127:Dopamine D2 Receptor Antagonists; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2; D019257:Quinpirole; D013134:Spiperone