Extracellular multi-unit recording from the olfactory nerve of teleosts

Hubbard, Peter; Velez, Zélia

http://hdl.handle.net/10400.1/14946

Use this identifier to reference this record.

Name:	Description:	Size:	Format:
jove-protocol-60962-extracellular-multi-unit-recording-from-olfactory-nerve.pdf		638.31 KB	Adobe PDF	Download

Send Feedback

Authors

Hubbard, Peter

Velez, Zélia

Abstract(s)

Recent studies have shown that ocean acidification affects olfactory-driven behavior in fish. This may be due in part to a reduction in olfactory sensitivity in high PCO2/low pH water. To assess the effects of ocean acidification, or olfactory sensitivity in marine fish in general, we propose that extracellular multi-unit recording from the olfactory nerve is the method of choice. Although invasive, it is sensitive, robust, reproducible and independent of external salinity (unlike the electro-olfactogram [EOG], for example). Furthermore, it records a primary sensory input into the CNS, prior to any central processing. We show that this method can show a reduction in olfactory sensitivity that is both temporary and odorant-dependent, using a range of amino acids to construct concentration-response curves and calculate the thresholds of detection.

Keywords

Animals Carbon dioxide Electrophysiological phenomena Extracellular space Fishes Glutamine Hydrogen-ion concentration Leucine Olfactory nerve Seawater Smell Software