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The processing of a complex food odor by antennal olfactory receptors ofPeriplaneta ameriana

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Summary

  1. 1.

    Antennal olfactory receptors of the cockroachPeriplaneta americana were studied for their reaction spectra and classified in groups according to the spectra, which show wide overlaps between different reaction groups. Also, within one group individual variations occur. The assignment of these cells to the systems of generalists and specialists is discussed.

  2. 2.

    A complex food odor, lemon oil, is fractionated by liquid chromatography and analysed by GC-MS. The fractions were used as odor stimuli, the concentrations of their constituents correspond roughly to their naturally occurring amounts in a single fruit.

  3. 3.

    Until now seven different receptor types or reaction groups have been found, which respond to the lemon oil or its fractions. Similarities between the reaction spectra of these cells were proved by calculation of the Pearson's correlation coefficient. The correlations support the grouping of the cells according to their most effective stimuli. The natural occurring amounts in a single fruit are discussed with respect to the sensitivity of the receptors.

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Abbreviations

EAG :

electroantennogram

GC :

gas chromatography

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Zoologie, Universität Regensburg, D-8400, Regensburg, Federal Republic of Germany

    Roland Selzer

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  1. Roland Selzer
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Supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft SFB 4/B3

The author wishes to thank Prof. Dr. J. Boeckh and Dr. U. Waldow for critical reading of the manuscript. He is grateful also to them and to Dr. H. Sass for many helpful discussions and to Priv. Doz. Dr. J. Kien for her assistance with the English manuscript. Special thanks are due to N. Christoph for his support in chemical analysis.

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Selzer, R. The processing of a complex food odor by antennal olfactory receptors ofPeriplaneta ameriana . J. Comp. Physiol. 144, 509–519 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01326836

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