Sex pheromones selectively stimulate the medial olfactory tracts of male goldfish

Brain Res. 1991 Sep 6;558(2):343-7. doi: 10.1016/0006-8993(91)90790-3.

Abstract

The olfactory tracts of teleost fish are comprised of medial and lateral sub-tracts which previous studies suggest convey responses to pheromones and food odors respectively. This study tested this possibility by recording electrical responses from the medial and lateral tracts of male goldfish exposed to sex pheromones and food odors. Only the medial olfactory tract responded to pheromones and both tracts responded to an L-amino acid and crude food odor. These findings verify earlier studies of peripheral olfactory sensitivity to pheromones and confirm that pheromonal information is carried within the medial tracts. They also suggest that the neural processes responsible for food recognition are more complex than previously supposed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Electrooculography
  • Electrophysiology
  • Food
  • Goldfish / physiology*
  • Male
  • Nerve Endings / drug effects
  • Nerve Endings / physiology
  • Neural Pathways / drug effects
  • Odorants
  • Olfactory Bulb / cytology
  • Olfactory Bulb / drug effects*
  • Serine / pharmacology
  • Sex Attractants / pharmacology*
  • Stimulation, Chemical
  • Taurocholic Acid / pharmacology

Substances

  • Sex Attractants
  • Serine
  • Taurocholic Acid