Olfactory receptor cell responses of pigeon to some odors.

A preparation has been developed in the pigeon which allows recording of the electrical activity from an olfactory nerve twig containing the nonmyelinated axons of a small group of olfactory receptor cells. The pigeon's response to n-amylacetate is vigorous and stable, like that of other air-breathing animals. Responses in the olfactory receptor cells in the pigeon increased in magnitude with increase in the odor concentration. An olfactory nerve twig produced a different magnitude of responses to the various odor stimuli. When an odor stimulation was applied to the olfactory mucosa, the two different olfactory nerve twigs which were separated from the same olfactory nerve bundle produced a different magnitude of responses. The differences may be dependent on several factors.