Odorant responses in taste neurons of the rat NTS

Brain Res. 1977 Oct 28;135(2):287-303. doi: 10.1016/0006-8993(77)91032-0.

Abstract

In the experiment reported in this paper, 22 of 35 neurons in the gustatory NTS were found to respond to odorant as well as taste stimuli. This odorant response was apparently mediated by the ethmoid nerve and at least one other odorant-responsive system, possibly other nasal trigeminal afferents. These gustatory neurons responded to odorants, as they did to taste stimuli, in a manner consistent with an encoding of stimulus quality information. Thus at least some of the neurons of the gustatory NTS carry information concerning several of the senses involved in ingestion.

MeSH terms

  • Acetone / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Benzylamines / pharmacology
  • Evoked Potentials
  • Female
  • Medulla Oblongata / cytology
  • Medulla Oblongata / physiology*
  • Methanol / pharmacology
  • Neurons / physiology
  • Odorants
  • Rats
  • Reflex / drug effects
  • Smell / drug effects
  • Smell / physiology*
  • Spinal Cord / cytology
  • Spinal Cord / physiology*
  • Sucrose / pharmacology
  • Taste / drug effects
  • Taste / physiology*

Substances

  • Benzylamines
  • Acetone
  • Sucrose
  • Methanol