OLFACTORY RECEPTOR CELL-ACTIVITY UNDER ELECTRICAL-POLARIZATION OF THE NASAL-MUCOSA IN THE FROG .1. SPONTANEOUS ACTIVITY

Google Scholar
  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 75 (8), 919-927
Abstract
The electrical activity of single olfactory receptor cells was studied under electrical polarization of the olfactory epithelium in the frog. The spontaneous discharge frequency varied as a linear function of the polarizing current in the range 1-20 .times. 10-6 A. Surface positive polarizations caused the spike activity to increase; surface-negative polarizations suppressed the activity. Partial accommodation to the current was observed. After-effects of short duration occurred. Rebound suppression occurred after positive polarization and rebound excitation after negative polarization. A high percentage of receptor units found in the frog''s mucosa displayed no spontaneous activity.