Smelling salt: calcium as an odourant for fathead minnows
Date
2014
Authors
Dew, William A
Pyle, Gregory
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Elsevier
Abstract
Calcium plays an essential role in olfactory sensory neuron function. Studies with fish have indicated that in addition
to being involved in olfactory signalling, calcium is itself an odourant. In this study we used fathead minnows
(Pimephales promelas) and employed two different techniques; electro-olfactography (EOG), a
neurophysiological technique that measures olfactory acuity at the olfactory epithelium, and a behavioural
choice assay using a trough maze. The results demonstrate that calcium and a known odourant L-arginine are
cross-adaptive, that calcium induces an EOG response in a concentration-dependent manner, and that calcium
induces a strong avoidance behaviour. The behavioural avoidance was also demonstrated to be olfactorydependent.
Taken together, the results demonstrate that calcium is a potent odourant for fathead minnows.
Being able to smell calcium may represent an ability to sense and avoid areas with significant changes in ionic
strength, thereby avoiding physiological stress.
Description
Sherpa Romeo green journal
Keywords
Calcium , Olfaction , Electro-olfactography , Behaviour , Cross-adaptation , Fathead minnows
Citation
Dew, W.A. and G.G. Pyle. 2014. Smelling salt: calcium as an odourant for fathead minnows. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, Part A, 169: 1-6.