BCS 110 Lecture Notes - Lecture 12: Olfactory Receptor, Taste Receptor, Taste
12 Mar 2018
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3/1/18: olfaction and gustation, chemical senses: function is to monitor chemical content of the environment - what, not where - nostrils are too close together for localizing olfaction (smell): airborne gustation (taste): mouth, roles in nature: No real evidence for pheromones in humans (although there are pleasing familiar smells: olfactory receptor cells, olfactory receptor cells are located in the upper part of the nose (nasal epithelium) - 10-20 million. Then transmitted to higher regions of the brain: receptors are regularly replaced (neurogenesis, there are many different kinds of receptor proteins; each type is scattered throughout the epithelium, mice ~1,500; humans ~1,000. 1 receptor cell expresses 1 type of protein. Equal amount of each kind: olfactory receptor sensitivity to odors, receptor cells express only one type of protein molecule. However, each protein responds to a variety of odors. Amygdala to limbic system - emotional response to odors.
