Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Olfactory Cortex”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 1,261 records · Page 70Linked to original sources

Tail pinch-induced changes in the turnover and release of dopamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine in different brain regions of the rat.

Tail pinch was administered through a paper clip attached to the rat's tail. The ex vivo changes in the metabolite/transmitter ratio were used as a measure of changes in the turnover of dopamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine. After a 2-min tail pinch dopamine turnover was increased in the striatum but not in the frontal cortex, hypothalamus or olfactory tubercle; 5-hydroxytryptamine turnover was increased in frontal cortex and hippocampus and was unchanged in striatum, hypothalamus and olfactory tubercle. Microdialysis was used to monitor the changes in extracellular neurotransmitter and metabolite concentrations during and after tail pinch. A 5-min tail pinch caused a rapid rise of both dopamine in the striatum and 5-hydroxytryptamine in the hippocampus. There was a smaller increase in the 5-hydroxytryptamine metabolite 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid and only a non-significant increase in the dopamine metabolite 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid.

3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid↗

Cortical afferents of the nucleus accumbens in the cat, studied with anterograde and retrograde transport techniques.

The cortical afferentation of the nucleus accumbens in the cat was studied with the aid of retrograde tracing techniques. Retrograde experiments were carried out with horseradish peroxidase or one of the fluorescent tracers Bisbenzimid, Nuclear Yellow and Fast Blue. In the anterograde experiments [3H]leucine and [35S]methionine were used as tracers. Following injections in the nucleus accumbens, retrogradely-labelled cells were found in the medial frontal cortex, the anterior olfactory nucleus, the posterior part of the insular cortex, the endopiriform nucleus, the amygdalo-hippocampal area, the entorhinal and perirhinal cortices and the subiculum of the hippocampal formation. In the medial frontal cortex most of the labelled cells were found in layers III and V of the prelimbic area (area 32 of Brodmann), but retrogradely-filled neurons were also present in the infralimbic area and in the caudoventral part of the lateral bank of the proreal gyrus. Retrogradely-labelled cells in the entorhinal and perirhinal cortices were located in the deep cellular layers. Following large injections in the nucleus accumbens, retrograde labelling in the subiculum extended from the most dorsal, septal pole to the most ventral, temporal pole. Injections of anterograde tracers were placed in the frontal cortex, the entorhinal and perirhinal cortices and the hippocampal formation. The prelimbic area was found to project via the internal capsule to mainly the rostral half of the nucleus accumbens, whereas in the caudal half of the nucleus only a lateral region receives frontal cortical fibres. Following injections in the infralimbic area only fibres passing through the nucleus accumbens were labelled. Afferents from the entorhinal and perirhinal cortices reach the nucleus accumbens by way of the external capsule and terminate mainly in a ventral zone of the nucleus accumbens. Afferents from the entorhinal area are distributed to the entire accumbens, whereas the termination field of the perirhinal afferents is largely restricted to the lateral part of the nucleus accumbens. Both the frontal cortex and the entorhinal and perirhinal cortices appear to project also to the nucleus caudatus and the tuberculum olfactorium. These cortical areas also project to the contralateral striatum. Both anterograde and retrograde tracing experiments demonstrated a topographical relationship between the subiculum and the nucleus accumbens. The ventral pole of the subiculum projects via the fornix to the medial part of the caudal half of the nucleus accumbens and to a small dorsomedial area in its rostral half. Successively more dorsal portions in the subiculum project to successively more ventrolateral parts in the rostral nucleus accumbens. The projection from the hippocampus was found to extend also to the tuberculum olfactorium. The results of the present study do not provide unambiguous criteria for the delimitation of the nucleus accumbens in the cat.

Animals↗

Comparative molecular neuroanatomy of cloned GABAA receptor subunits in the rat CNS.

gamma-Aminobutyric acidA (GABAA) receptors in the mammalian central nervous system (CNS) are members of a family of ligand-gated ion channels consisting of heterooligomeric glycoprotein complexes in synaptic and extrasynaptic membranes. Although molecular cloning studies have identified 5 subunits (with approximately 40% amino acid homology) and isoforms thereof (approximately 70% homology), namely alpha 1-6, beta 1-4, gamma 1-3, delta, and rho, the subunit composition and stoichiometry of native receptors are not known. The regional distribution and cellular expression of GABAA receptor messenger RNAs (mRNAs) in the rat CNS have now been investigated by in situ hybridization histochemistry with subunit-specific 35S-labelled oligonucleotide probes on adjacent cryostat sections. Whereas alpha 1, beta 2, and gamma 2 transcripts were the most abundant and ubiquitous in the rat brain--correlating with the radioautographic distribution of GABAA receptors revealed by an ionophore ligand--others had a more restricted expression while often being abundant. For example, alpha 2 transcripts were found only in the olfactory bulb, cerebral cortex, caudate putamen, hippocampal formation, and certain lower brain stem nuclei; alpha 3 only in the olfactory bulb and cerebral cortex; alpha 5 in the hippocampal formation; and alpha 6 only in cerebellar granule cells. In addition, beta 1, beta 3, gamma 1, and delta mRNAs were also uniquely expressed in restricted brain regions. Moreover, in the spinal cord, alpha 1-3, beta 2,3, and gamma 2 mRNAs were differently expressed in Rexed layers 2-9, with alpha 2, beta 3, and gamma 2 transcripts most prominent in motoneurons of layer 9. Although differential protein trafficking could lead to the incorporation of some subunits into somatic membranes and others into dendritic membranes, some tentative conclusions as to the probable composition of native proteins in various regions of the CNS may be drawn.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗

5-HT concentration in cat's brain.

Endogenous concentrations of TRP, 5-HT and 5-HIAA were determined in the different cortical and subcortical areas of adult cat's brain, using ion-exchange chromatography and spectrofluorimetric methods. Tryptophan is homogeneously distributed in all structures of the brain. 5-HT is mainly accumulated in the brain stem, hypothalamus and caudate nucleus, but also in cortical areas as olfactory and piriform gyrus. The ratio 5-HIAA/5-HT shows that 5-HT utilization is higher in the structures containing small amounts of 5-HT. Using the radioenzymatic assay described by Saavedra et al. (1973), the rostrocaudal distribution of 5-HT content was determined in olfactory and piriform cortex. Important concentrations of 5-HT were detected in the prepiriformis and anterior amygdaloidea areas. Using the same assay and microdissection on frozen frontal slices of the brain, the distribution of 5-HT concentration throughout the different layers of cortical areas was studied. Piriform, olfactory and sigmoid cortex present high concentrations in the superficial layers, including the molecular one. These results were confirmed by uptake studies, made on crude homogenates from frozen tissue, suggesting that 5-HT is mainly contained in the most external cortical terminals.

Animals↗

Functional magnetic resonance imaging of odor identification: the effect of aging.

BACKGROUND: Sense of smell declines with age and impairment in olfaction has been observed in some neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease. Functional neuroimaging techniques enable researchers to observe brain regions activated by olfactory stimuli. METHODS: We gave three mainly olfactory-mediated odors (limonene, methylsalicylate, and eugenol) to six young and six elderly subjects and observed the areas activated by using blood oxygen level dependent contrast functional magnetic resonance imaging. RESULTS: The group mapping of young subjects showed extensive activation in the orbitofrontal cortex, commonly believed to be the olfactory cortex, some limbic areas (the hippocampus and the thalamus), regions involved with gustatory sensation (the anterior insula and the inferior postcentral gyrus), superior and inferior temporal gyri, and cerebellum. In the elderly group, only the left inferior temporal gyrus and the primary visual cortex reached accepted significance levels. CONCLUSIONS: We have therefore confirmed previous reports of brain regions involved in olfactory processing in young volunteers and demonstrated decreased activation in elderly volunteers.

Adult↗

Strong olfactory stimulation reduces seizure susceptibility in amygdala-kindled rats.

Seizures in human temporal lobe epilepsy are characterized by paroxysmal activity in the limbic system. The primary olfactory or piriform cortex is a central part of the limbic system. Since a relationship between olfactory sensation and limbic seizures has been described, we were interested in the effect of strong olfactory stimulation on the seizure susceptibility of amygdala-kindled rats, a model of human temporal lobe epilepsy. Olfactory stimulation with toluene was able to suppress seizures in most kindled rats after stimulation at 20% above the threshold for eliciting epileptic afterdischarges. Olfactory stimulation with toluene or ammonia increased the threshold by 27 and 25% compared to control conditions. Our data substantiate that olfactory brain regions, such as the piriform cortex, are involved in amygdala-kindled seizures and suggest that strong physiological stimulation of this nucleus interferes with on-going seizure activity in the limbic system. Thus, olfactory stimulation could contribute to anticonvulsant therapy.

Ammonia↗

Odor increases [3H]phorbol dibutyrate binding to protein kinase C in olfactory structures of rat brain. Effect of entorhinal cortex lesion.

Since protein kinase C (PKC) is known to be activated in the olfactory bulb and in several limbic areas related to odor processing, we determined whether an olfactory stimulus was able to modulate the activity of PKC in animals with bilateral entorhinal cortex lesion. The translocation of PKC from the cytosol to the membrane was studied using the phorbol ester 12,13-dibutyrate ([3H]PDBu) binding in control and bilateral entorhinal cortex (EC) lesioned rats. The lesion of EC per se did not significantly affect [3H]PDBu binding in any of the brain structures analyzed, while odor stimulation induced it in both control and EC-lesioned groups in the external plexiform layer of the olfactory bulb. In contrast, an odor-induced increase of [3H]PDBu binding in internal glomerular layer of the olfactory bulb was only observed in EC lesioned animals. Similar results were obtained in the piriform cortex. In both CA1 and CA3 hippocampal subfields, odor stimulation induced an increase of [3H]PDBu binding in both control and EC-lesioned animals, the increase being potentiated only in CA1 of lesioned rats. The dentate gyrus and the amygdala exhibited a similar pattern of [3H]PDBu binding, showing a significant increase exclusively in EC-lesioned animals after odor stimulation. The results strongly suggest that the EC plays a key role in odor processing. PKC appears to play an important role in responding to the activation of lipid second messengers, which have been described to be involved in the processing of odor stimuli in several structures of the olfactory pathway.

Amygdala↗

Cholecystokinin levels in prohormone convertase 2 knock-out mouse brain regions reveal a complex phenotype of region-specific alterations.

Prohormone convertase 2 is widely co-localized with cholecystokinin in rodent brain. To examine its role in cholecystokinin processing, cholecystokinin levels were measured in dissected brain regions from prohormone convertase 2 knock-out mice. Cholecystokinin levels were lower in hippocampus, septum, thalamus, mesencephalon, and pons in knock-out mice than wild-type mice. In cerebral cortex, cortex-related structures and olfactory bulb, cholecystokinin levels were higher than wild type. Female mice were more affected by the loss of prohormone convertase 2 than male mice. The decrease in cholecystokinin levels in these brain regions shows that prohormone convertase 2 is important for cholecystokinin processing. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction measurements were performed to examine the relationship between peptide levels and cholecystokinin and enzyme expression. They revealed that cholecystokinin and prohormone convertase 1 mRNA levels in cerebral cortex and olfactory bulb were actually lower in knock-out than wild type, whereas their expression in other brain regions of knock-out mouse brain was the same as wild type. Female mice frequently had higher expression of cholecystokinin and prohormone convertase 1, 2, and 5 mRNA than male mice. The loss of prohormone convertase 2 alters CCK processing in specific brain regions. This loss also appears to trigger compensatory mechanisms in cerebral cortex and olfactory bulb that produce elevated levels of cholecystokinin but do not involve increased expression of cholecystokinin, prohormone convertase 1 or 5 mRNA.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Orbitofrontal cortex dysfunction in obsessive-compulsive disorder? II. Olfactory quality discrimination in obsessive-compulsive disorder.

BACKGROUND: Olfactory quality discrimination is a putative marker of orbitofrontal cortex function in mammals. As this portion of the cerebral cortex was repeatedly implicated in the pathophysiology of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) this study was designed in an attempt to quantify this behavioural function in OCD patients. METHODS AND RESULTS: Olfactory quality discrimination was compared in OCD patients and healthy controls. Thirty two subjects participated in the study: 16 (13 women and 3 men) medication free OCD outpatients and 16 sex and age matched healthy controls. Olfactory tests consisted of determination of detection thresholds to isoamyl acetate, and a three way forced choice quality discrimination task, using isoamyl acetate, citral and eugenol as stimuli. No significant differences in sensitivity and performance of the quality discrimination task between the two groups were found. Within the OCD group the more severely affected patients (Y-BOCS>29) performed significantly better than the less severely affected (Y-BOCS<30) patients on the more difficult part of the quality discrimination task. Within this subgroup of patients the correlation between performance on the olfactory task and a previously reported alternation task tended to be negative as compared to a significantly positive correlation in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: It seems that olfactory quality discrimination may prove to be a useful noninvasive marker of prefrontal cortex function in OCD. Furthermore, the organization of functional modules within the orbitofrontal cortex, rather than a simple dysfunction, may prove to characterize OCD.

Adolescent↗

Comparative autoradiographic distribution of central omega (benzodiazepine) modulatory site subtypes with high, intermediate and low affinity for zolpidem and alpidem.

Pharmacological characterization of [3H]benzodiazepine binding to membrane preparations of adult rat hippocampus and neonatal rat brain have demonstrated, in addition to the omega 1 and omega 2 populations of central omega benzodiazepine binding sites associated with GABAA receptors, the existence of binding sites with microM affinity for the imidazopyridines zolpidem and alpidem. In the present study we have investigated their comparative autoradiographic distribution using [3H]flumazenil as a ligand. In the neonatal rat CNS, the imidazopyridine derivatives zolpidem and alpidem were found to discriminate two [3H]flumazenil binding site populations with an IC50 value ratio of more than 200-fold. In the different regions investigated (spinal cord, striatum, neocortex and inferior colliculus) the low affinity component had IC50 values of 20-40 microM (zolpidem) and 5-15 microM (alpidem) and accounted for ca. 50% of the total binding site population. In the adult rat, these imidazopyridine derivatives displayed a greater displacing potency in the cerebellum (IC50 = 6 and 36 nM, respectively) than in the hippocampus (IC50 = 37 and 403 nM, respectively). In the cerebellum, [3H]flumazenil binding was fully displaced by 1 microM of either compound and Hill coefficients of displacement curves were close to unity. In the hippocampus, 25% of [3H]flumazenil binding were resistant to 3 microM zolpidem or 1 microM alpidem, but were displaced by 100 microM of either compound. CL 218,872 also displayed a greater displacing potency in the cerebellum (IC50 = 83 nM) than in the hippocampus (IC50 = 711 nM) but [3H]flumazenil binding in the hippocampus was fully displaced by 10 microM of this compound. In adult rat hippocampus, zolpidem and alpidem were found to discriminate between three central omega site subtypes which display high (IC50 = 31 and 6.1 nM, for these imidazopyridine derivatives. In contrast, CL 218,872 discriminated between omega 1 and omega 2 sites but not between two omega 2 receptor subpopulations. omega 1 sites were mainly localized in layer IV of the sensorimotor cortex, cerebellum, substantia nigra, olfactory bulb and inferior colliculus. omega 2I sites were present in the cortical mantle (with higher levels in the cingulate and olfactory than in the sensorimotor cortex) and in subcortical (hippocampus, hypothalamus and nucleus accumbens) limbic structures. In the hippocampus, hypothalamus, spinal cord and nucleus accumbens, omega 2L sites accounted for more than 25% of the specific [3H]flumazenil binding; the density of these sites was minor in the cortex and in most pyramidal and extrapyramidal system structures.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗

Cortical projections from the laterodorsal and dorsal tegmental nuclei. A fluorescent retrograde tracing study in the rat.

Cortical injections of the fluorescent tracers Fast blue and Diamidino yellow resulted in retrogradely labeled cells in the dorsal tegmental region of the rat. Both the laterodorsal tegmental nucleus and the ventromedial portion of the dorsal tegmental nucleus presented labeled cells. Topographically, the most robust projection was directed to the medial frontal cortex, followed by the olfactory and lateral frontal (motor) cortex. Fewer labeled cells appeared after parietal, temporal or occipital cortex injections.

Amidines↗

Development profile of metabotropic glutamate receptor mRNA in rat brain.

We have studied the expression of metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR) mRNA by Northern blot analysis with a specific cDNA probe (the pmGR1 probe). In 1-day-old rats, the steady state levels of mRNA were higher in the hypothalamus and olfactory bulb, with intermediate levels in the cerebellum and low levels in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex. In the olfactory bulb, hypothalamus, and cerebral cortex, the expression of mGluR mRNA remained constant at 8 and 30 days of postnatal life. In contrast, in the cerebellum and hippocampus, mRNA levels increased progressively with age. There was no correlation between levels of mGluR mRNA and stimulation of polyphosphoinositide hydrolysis by 1-aminocyclopentane-1S,3R-dicarboxylic acid (trans-ACPD), which was much greater in brain slices from 8-day-old rats and was nearly absent in the adult cerebellum and olfactory bulb, where we have found the highest levels of mRNA. In addition, mGluR mRNA was detectable in cultured cerebellar granule cells but not in cultured neurons from cerebral hemispheres or in cultured astrocytes, which responded to trans-ACPD with an increased formation of [3H]inositol monophosphate. The discrepancies between levels of mGluR mRNA detected with the pmGR1 probe and trans-ACPD-stimulated polyphosphoinositide hydrolysis suggest either that different subtypes of mGluRs exist or that mRNA levels are not critical for the dynamic changes in the activity of mGluRs during development.

Aging↗

Time-related changes in serum perphenazine, striatal 3H-spiperone binding and regional brain acid metabolites of dopamine and 5-hydroxy-tryptamine after a single dose of perphenazine.

A single dose of perphenazine (5.0 mg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally to male Wistar rats. The time-related alterations in serum levels of perphenazine, striatal 3H-spiperone binding ex vivo and the regional brain metabolism of dopamine and 5-hydroxy-tryptamine were studied. Low serum levels of perphenazine were observed together with increased Kd of 3H-spiperone. No significant changes in Bmax were observed. Since Kd of 3H-spiperone binding peaked several hours after the maximal serum levels of perphenazine, perphenazine in serum appeared not to directly reflect the events at the receptor level. The concentrations of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) and 3-methoxy, 4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid (HVA) in the striatum were increased after perphenazine. They were maximal 1-3 h after the drug administration and showed positive correlations (correlation coefficient 0.93 and 0.80, respectively) with the serum levels of perphenazine. Increased levels of HVA were also observed both in the olfactory tubercle and in the frontal cortex. However, in the olfactory tubercle, administration of perphenazine did not significantly increase the DOPAC concentrations. In the olfactory tubercle 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) was decreased 1-24 h after administration of perphenazine. In the striatum and in the frontal cortex only slight changes in 5-HIAA were seen. Thus, in the olfactory tubercle 5-hydroxytryptaminergic mechanisms could modulate the dopaminergic neurotransmission.

3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid↗

Hunger and satiety modify the responses of olfactory and visual neurons in the primate orbitofrontal cortex.

1. The primate orbitofrontal cortex is the site of convergence of information from primary taste and primary olfactory cortical regions. In addition, it receives projections from temporal lobe visual areas concerned with the representation of objects such as foods. Previous work has shown that the responses of gustatory neurons in the secondary taste area within the orbitofrontal cortex are modulated by hunger and satiety, in that they stop responding to the taste of a food on which an animal has been fed to behavioral satiation, yet may continue to respond to the taste of other foods. 2. This study demonstrates a similar modulation of the responses of olfactory and visual orbitofrontal cortex neurons after feeding to satiety. Seven of nine olfactory neurons that were responsive to the odors of foods, such as blackcurrant juice, were found to decrease their responses to the odor of the satiating food in a selective and statistically significant manner. 3. It also was found for eight of nine neurons that had selective responses to the sight of food, that they demonstrated a sensory-specific reduction in their visual responses to foods after satiation. 4. The responses of orbitofrontal cortex neurons selective for foods in more than one modality also were analyzed before and after feeding to satiation. Satiety often affected the responses of these multimodal neurons across all modalities, but a sensory-specific effect was not always demonstrable for both modalities. 5. These findings show that the olfactory and visual representations of food, as well as the taste representation of food, in the primate orbitofrontal cortex are modulated by hunger. Usually a component related to sensory-specific satiety can be demonstrated. The findings link at least part of the processing of olfactory and visual information in this brain region to the control of feeding-related behavior.

Analysis of Variance↗

Effects of the noradrenaline neurotoxin DSP 4 on monoamine neurons and their transmitter turnover in rat CNS.

Regional effects of DSP 4 on monoamine neurons have been analyzed by chemical assay of endogenous monoamines and their metabolites in rat CNS. The results confirmed that the neurotoxic action of DSP 4 is predominantly on noradrenaline nerve terminal projections originating from locus coeruleus, with the most marked effects on terminal fields localized most distant from the noradrenaline perikarya. DSP 4 treatment (10 days) caused no alteration of the regional DA levels, except in cingulate cortex, where a moderate increase (+40%) was observed, possibly at least partially related to a sprouting of dopamine nerve terminals following the noradrenaline denervation. 5-hydroxytryptamine levels were generally unaltered after DSP 4, except for an about 10-25% reduction in cerebral cortex and hippocampus. There was with time a certain noradrenaline recovery, most likely related to regeneration of noradrenaline nerve terminals, although this process was relatively slow (months). Analysis of catecholamine decline after tyrosine hydroxylase inhibition and metabolite/monoamine ratios, as indices for transmitter utilization rate, indicated an increased noradrenaline turnover in terminals spared by DSP 4, while dopamine turnover appeared to be reduced in many regions (i.a. cerebral cortex, striatum, accumbens, olfactory tubercle and spinal cord), most pronounced in cingulate cortex. The results indicate that noradrenaline neurons have a facilitatory action on dopamine neurons. The DSP 4 treatment did not cause any significant effect on 5-hydroxytryptamine turnover in any of the individual regions analyzed.

3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid↗

Herpes simplex encephalitis. Immunohistological demonstration of spread of virus via olfactory pathways in mice.

Six-week-old Balb/c mice were inoculated intranasally with a suspension of HSV1 virus and the distribution of viral antigen in the brain 3-7 days later was surveyed using the immunoperoxidase technique. Virus was first detectable in the brain 4 days later at 2 distinct sites: the trigeminal root entry zone in the brain stem and the olfactory bulbs. On succeeding days virus spread from the trigeminal focus to many other brain stem nuclei and, in some mice, to the thalamus and the cerebellum. From the olfactory bulbs, in a proportion of mice, virus spread to anterior olfactory nucleus, lateral olfactory tract, septal nuclei, temporal lobe, hippocampus and cingulate cortex. Infection of olfactory bulbs was found to occur following intracorneal as well as intranasal inoculation of virus. The relevance of this model to human herpes simplex encephalitis is discussed.

Animals↗