<p>Using a conditioning paradigm and an automated olfactometer, I investigated the olfactory sensitivity of five CD-1 mice for seven aromatic aldehydes. With two of the stimuli (3-phenylpropanal and canthoxal), the animals discriminated concentrations as low as 10 ppb (parts per billion) from the odorless solvent and with four of the stimuli (helional, cyclamal, lilial and lyral) they discriminated concentrations as low as 1 ppb, with single individuals even scoring better. All five animals yielded the by far lowest threshold value with bourgeonal and discriminated a concentration of 0.1 ppq (parts per quadrillion) from the odorless solvent. The detection threshold values for aromatic aldehydes were found to be affected by the type of functional groups and oxygen moiety attached to the benzene ring. A comparison of the present data with those obtained in other species found no clear correlation between olfactory sensitivity and the size of the olfactory receptor repertoire.</p>

<p>For many years, primates have been considered to be animals with a poorly developed sense of smell. However, in recent years several studies have shown that at least some primate species have a high olfactory sensitivity for a variety of odorants. The present study used a two-choice instrumental conditioning paradigm to test the olfactory sensitivity for six aromatic aldehydes in four spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi). With helional, cyclamal,canthoxal and lilial all animals discriminated concentrations below 1 ppm from the odorless solvent, with single individuals even scoring better. With 3-phenyl-propionic aldehyde all animals detected concentrations below 2 ppb, and with bourgeonal even below 0.3 ppb. The detection thresholds of the odorants changed systematically with molecular structure. Addition of a dioxo or methoxy group to the benzene ring led to an increase in threshold values,while the absence of a methyl group close to the aldehyde moiety was linked to a low threshold value for the odorant. The study shows that spider monkeys have a well developed olfactory sensitivity for aromatic aldehydes.</p>

For many years, primates have been considered to be animals with a poorly developed sense of smell. However, in recent years several studies have shown that at least some primate species have a high olfactory sensitivity for a variety of odorants. The present study used a two-choice instrumental conditioning paradigm to test the olfactory sensitivity for six aromatic aldehydes in four spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi). With helional, cyclamal,canthoxal and lilial all animals discriminated concentrations below 1 ppm from the odorless solvent, with single individuals even scoring better. With 3-phenyl-propionic aldehyde all animals detected concentrations below 2 ppb, and with bourgeonal even below 0.3 ppb. The detection thresholds of the odorants changed systematically with molecular structure. Addition of a dioxo or methoxy group to the benzene ring led to an increase in threshold values,while the absence of a methyl group close to the aldehyde moiety was linked to a low threshold value for the odorant. The study shows that spider monkeys have a well developed olfactory sensitivity for aromatic aldehydes.

The honeybee is one of the model species in insect olfaction and its sense of smell is well studied. However, knowledge about the spectrum of odorants detectable to honeybees is limited. One class of odorants that has never been tested so far are the amino acids, which are important constituents of floral nectar. The experiments reported here were conducted in order to (1) determine if the odor of amino acids is detectable to honeybees (Apis mellifera), and (2) determine olfactory detection thresholds in honeybees for detectable amino acid odors. To this end, the proboscis extension reflex, a classical conditioning paradigm that takes advantage of the honeybee’s ability to build a robust association between an odor stimulus and a nectar reward, was used. The results demonstrate that five out of 20 amino acids presented at 100 mM were detectable. The honeybees’ median olfactory detection thresholds for these five amino acids are 12 mM for L-tyrosine and L-cysteine, 50 mM for L-asparagine and L-tryptophan, and 100 mM for L-proline. These threshold values are high in comparison to naturally occurring concentrations in floral nectar, and compared to threshold values obtained in vertebrate species. One possible explanation for these findings is that the size of the olfactory receptor repertoire of honeybees limits their olfactory capabilities in terms of detectability and sensitivity for the odor of amino acids

Using a conditioning paradigm and an automated olfactometer, I investigated the olfactory sensitivity of five CD-1 mice for seven aromatic aldehydes. With two of the stimuli (3-phenylpropanal and canthoxal), the animals discriminated concentrations as low as 10 ppb (parts per billion) from the odorless solvent and with four of the stimuli (helional, cyclamal, lilial and lyral) they discriminated concentrations as low as 1 ppb, with single individuals even scoring better. All five animals yielded the by far lowest threshold value with bourgeonal and discriminated a concentration of 0.1 ppq (parts per quadrillion) from the odorless solvent. The detection threshold values for aromatic aldehydes were found to be affected by the type of functional groups and oxygen moiety attached to the benzene ring. A comparison of the present data with those obtained in other species found no clear correlation between olfactory sensitivity and the size of the olfactory receptor repertoire.

Primates have traditionally been viewed as having a poorly developed sense of smell. However, in recent years, studies have shown that at least some primate species use olfaction in a number of behaviors, and that they have a high olfactory sensitivity for various chemical classes of odorants. Using a two-choice instrumental conditioning paradigm, the present study assessed olfactor ydetection thresholds of three spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi) for eight aliphatic alcohols and aldehydes, known as "green odors". With all odorants, the animals detected concentrations below 1 parts per million, with single individuals performing even better. The type of functional group present systematically affected olfactory detection thresholds, whereas the presence, position and configuration of a double bond did not. Compared to previously tested classes of odorants, thespider monkeys were not particularly sensitive to "green odors". Furthermore, they are lesssensitive for "green odors" compared to humans and mice. The present results suggest that neuroanatomical and genetic comparisons across species are poor predictors of olfactory sensitivity.

Le système olfactif partage de nombreux liens moléculaires, neuroanatomiques et fonctionnels avec le système de régulation de l’homéostasie énergétique. L’exploration de ces interactions nous a conduit à démontrer que la détection olfactive est modulée par les états alimentaires et métaboliques : des animaux affamés présentent une meilleure sensibilité olfactive que des animaux rassasiés. Cette modulation persiste chez les rats Zucker fa/fa obèses et disparaît chez les rats LouC résistants à l’obésité. Les hormones et les neuropeptides impliqués dans la régulation de l’homéostasie énergétique apparaissent comme de bons candidats pour expliquer l’influence des états alimentaires et métaboliques sur la détection olfactive. Afin de tester directement leur action sur la détection olfactive, nous avons évalué les rôles de l’Orexine A, un neuropeptide hypothalamique orexigène, ainsi que de la leptine et de l’insuline, deux hormones d’adiposité périphériques, sur la capacité de détection olfactive de rats Wistar. Ainsi, nous avons démontré que l’injection ICV d’orexine A induit une augmentation de la détection olfactive. A l’inverse, les injections ICV de leptine et d’insuline induisent une diminution de la détection olfactive. Les récepteurs de l’orexine A, de l’insuline et de la leptine sont largement exprimés au niveau du système olfactif. En particulier, les récepteurs de l’insuline présentent une régionalisation marquée et sont très abondants au niveau de plusieurs catégories cellulaires du bulbe olfactif, le premier relais central de l’information olfactive. Nous avons également montré que la quantité d’insuline bulbaire variait en fonction de l’état alimentaire tandis que la densité des récepteurs n’était pas modifiée. L’ensemble de ces données, corroboré par d’autres travaux de la littérature, suggère que les hormones et les neuropeptides impliqués dans la régulation de l’homéostasie énergétique jouent également un rôle majeur dans la régulation de la fonction olfactive. Les molécules orexigènes, libérées en état de faim et de carence énergétique, augmentent la détection olfactive et participent à l’initiation du comportement alimentaire. A l’inverse, les molécules anorexigènes libérées en état de rassasiement et d’abondance énergétique, diminuent la détection olfactive et conduisent à l’arrêt de la prise alimentaire. La compréhension des mécanismes qui sous-tendent les interactions entre l’odorat et la régulation de la prise alimentaire et de la masse corporelle pourrait permettre à terme d’évaluer l’importance de la perception sensorielle de la nourriture lors de la mise en place de troubles du comportement alimentaire. / Olfaction is closely linked to energy homeostasis regulation. The olfactory system shares several molecular, anatomical and functional links with brain areas and peripheral organs involved in food intake and body weight regulations. We demonstrated that the feeding state modulates olfactory detection: fasted rats display better olfactory sensitivity that satiated ones. This modulation is also observed in Obese Zucker fa/fa rats. However, obesity-resistant LouC rats do not modulate their olfactory detection according to the feeding state. Peripheral hormones and neuropeptides involved in energy homeostasis regulation might be responsible for olfactory detection modulation. To examine this hypothesis, we evaluated the respective roles of Orexin A, a hypothalamic orexigenic neuropeptide; as well as leptin and insulin, two peripheral adiposity hormones; on olfactory detection. We demonstrated that central administration of Orexin A increases olfactory detection; whereas central administration of leptin or insulin decreases olfactory detection. Orexin A, leptin and insulin receptors are widely expressed in the olfactory system. We further demonstrated that insulin receptors were abundantly expressed in discrete olfactory bulb areas and in several neuron types of the olfactory bulb network. The whole of these data, supported by several reports, suggest that hormones and neuropeptides classically involved in energy homeostasis regulation extend their roles to olfactory detection modulation. Indeed, orexigenic signals released upon fasting or in conditions of energy depletion increase olfactory detection which participate in meal initiation. By contrast, anorexigenic signals released during refeeding or in conditions of energy abundance decrease olfactory detection which participate in meal termination. With the ever rising incidence of metabolic disorders, elucidating the cross-talks between olfaction and energy homeostasis regulation is of critical relevance to better understand and manage the etiology of altered food-intake behaviours.