Direct measurement of extracellular electrical signals from mammalian olfactory sensory neurons in planar triode devices

Analyst. 2012 May 7;137(9):2047-53. doi: 10.1039/c2an16205a. Epub 2012 Mar 21.

Abstract

An artificial nose was developed to mimic aspects of sensory transduction of the peripheral mammalian olfactory system. We directly cultured and differentiated rat olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) on indium-tin oxide electrodes of planar triode substrates without a coupling agent. Direct voltage (~50 μV) and current (~250 nA) signals were measured simultaneously when OSNs on the planar triode substrates were exposed to odorant mixtures. The response signals were sensitive to the concentration of the odorant mixture, with a typical lifetime, shape, and adaptation profile as seen in responses upon repeated stimulation in vivo. We found that the rising time to the peak current was ~161 ms, while the signal back to baseline was in 1.8 s, which are in agreement with the natural intracellular electrophysiological responses. These results provide the first evidence that mature OSNs grown in a planar triode device are able to detect direct electrophysiological responses to odorants.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Count
  • Cell Culture Techniques / instrumentation*
  • Cell Differentiation / drug effects
  • Electric Conductivity*
  • Electrodes
  • Electrophysiological Phenomena / drug effects
  • Extracellular Space / metabolism*
  • Kinetics
  • Odorants
  • Olfactory Receptor Neurons / cytology*
  • Olfactory Receptor Neurons / drug effects
  • Potassium Chloride / pharmacology
  • Rats
  • Tin Compounds / chemistry

Substances

  • Tin Compounds
  • Potassium Chloride
  • indium tin oxide