Spatial variation in response to odorants on the rat olfactory epithelium.

We have measured the electro-olfactogram produced by four odorants, nicotine, i-pentyl acetate, i-pentanoic acid and cineole from twelve positions on an in vitro preparation of rat olfactory tissue. Each odorant shows a different pattern of response over the twelve positions which can be explained by differences in olfactory receptor populations between regions of the rat olfactory epithelium. The result for nicotine is further evidence that there are olfactory receptors which are stimulated by nicotine when it is presented as a vapour.