OMP gene deletion results in an alteration in odorant quality perception

Behav Neurosci. 2001 Jun;115(3):626-31. doi: 10.1037//0735-7044.115.3.626.

Abstract

To test the hypothesis that odorant quality perception is altered in olfactory marker protein (OMP)-null mice, we trained and tested adult OMP-null and control mice, using a 5-odorant identification confusion matrix task (animal odorant confusion matrix [AOCM]). On average, control and null mice performed the task at equivalent levels. The composite 5 x 5 response matrix from 40 testing sessions for each subject (both OMP-null and control) was compared with that of every other subject, yielding a dissimilarity matrix of AOCM responses. A multidimensional scaling (MDS) analysis of the dissimilarity data yielded a 4-dimensional solution, with each mouse occupying a point in MDS animal space. Statistical analysis demonstrated significant effects of genotype in determining the location of a mouse in the MDS space. These data suggest, therefore, that compared with that of controls, odorant quality perception is altered in the OMP-null mouse.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Chromosome Deletion*
  • Genetic Markers / genetics
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics*
  • Odorants
  • Olfactory Marker Protein
  • Smell / genetics*
  • Smell / physiology

Substances

  • Genetic Markers
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Olfactory Marker Protein
  • Omp protein, mouse