title: Olfactory responses to explosives associated odorants are enhanced by zinc nanoparticles.
abstract: Many odorants related to manufactured explosives have low volatilities and are barely detectable as odors. We previously reported that zinc metal nanoparticles increased rat olfactory epithelium responses, measured by electroolfactogram (EOG), to several odorants. Here, we report that nanomolar concentrations of zinc metal nanoparticles strongly enhanced olfactory responses to the explosives related odorants cyclohexanone, methyl benzoate, acetophenone, and eugenol. Rat olfactory epithelium was exposed to metal nanoparticles and odorant responses were quantified by EOG. Zinc nanoparticles added to explosive odorants strongly increased the odorant response in a dose-dependent manner. The enzymatic breakdown of the second messenger cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) was prevented by adding the membrane-permeable phosphodiesterase inhibitor 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX). This caused the olfactory cilia cAMP concentration to increase and generated EOG signals. The EOG responses generated by IBMX were not enhanced by zinc nanoparticles. Based on these observations, we conclude that zinc nanoparticles act at the receptor site and are involved in the initial events of olfaction. Our results suggest that zinc metal nanoparticles can be used to facilitate a canine detection of explosive odorants.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA.
authors.forename: Christopher H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: Oleg
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Pustovyy
authors.forename: John C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Dennis
authors.forename: Timothy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: Edward E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Morrison
authors.forename: Vitaly J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Vodyanoy
mesh_terms: D015056:1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000098:Acetophenones / Q000494:pharmacology; D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D001565:Benzoates / Q000494:pharmacology; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism; D003512:Cyclohexanones / Q000494:pharmacology; D004285:Dogs; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005054:Eugenol / Q000494:pharmacology; D053834:Explosive Agents / Q000737:chemistry*; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles; D009812:Odorants; D009831:Olfactory Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D010727:Phosphoric Diester Hydrolases / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D012903:Smell / Q000187:drug effects; D015032:Zinc
chemical_list: D000098:Acetophenones; D001565:Benzoates; D003512:Cyclohexanones; D053834:Explosive Agents; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors; D005054:Eugenol; C036468:cyclohexanone; C044605:methyl benzoate; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D010727:Phosphoric Diester Hydrolases; D015032:Zinc; C038699:acetophenone; D015056:1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine