Department of Head and Neck Surgery & Communication Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA.
Computational Biology & Bioinformatics PhD Program, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
Inhal Toxicol. 2022;34(11-12):350-358. doi: 10.1080/08958378.2022.2115175. Epub 2022 Aug 31.
Olfaction requires a combination of sensorineural components and conductive components, but conductive mechanisms have not typically received much attention. This study investigates the role of normal nasal vestibule morphological variations in ten healthy subjects on odorant flux in the olfactory cleft.
Computed tomography images were used to create subject-specific nasal models. Each subject's unilateral nasal cavity was classified according to its nasal vestibule shape as Standard or Notched. Inspiratory airflow simulations were performed at 15 L/min, simulating resting inspiration using computational fluid dynamics modeling. Odorant transport simulations for three odorants (limonene, 2,4-dinitrotoluene, and acetaldehyde) were then performed at concentrations of 200 ppm for limonene and acetaldehyde, and 0.2 ppm for dinitrotoluene. Olfactory cleft odorant flux was computed for each simulation.
Simulated results showed airflow in the olfactory cleft was greater in the Standard phenotype compared to the Notched phenotype. For Standard, median airflow was greatest in the anterior region (0.5006 L/min) and lowest in the posterior region (0.1009 L/min). Median airflow in Notched was greatest in the medial region (0.3267 L/min) and lowest in the posterior region (0.0756 L/min). Median olfactory odorant flux for acetaldehyde and limonene was greater in Standard (Acetaldehyde: Standard = 140.45 pg/cm-s; Notched = 122.20 pg/cm-s. Limonene: Standard = 0.67 pg/cm-s; Notched = 0.65 pg/cm-s). Median dinitrotoluene flux was greater in Notched (Standard = 2.86 × 10pg/cm-s; Notched = 4.29 × 10 pg/cm-s). The impact of nasal vestibule morphological variations on odorant flux at the olfactory cleft may have implications on individual differences in olfaction, which should be investigated further.
嗅觉需要传感器神经成分和传导成分的结合，但传导机制通常没有受到太多关注。本研究调查了 10 名健康受试者正常鼻前庭形态变化对嗅裂中气味通量的影响。
使用计算机断层扫描图像创建特定于受试者的鼻腔模型。根据鼻前庭形状将每个受试者的单侧鼻腔分为标准型或切迹型。使用计算流体动力学模型模拟 15 L/min 的吸气气流模拟，模拟静息吸气。然后，对于三种气味（柠檬烯、2,4-二硝基甲苯和乙醛），在浓度为 200 ppm 的柠檬烯和乙醛以及 0.2 ppm 的二硝基甲苯下进行气味传输模拟。计算了每个模拟的嗅裂气味通量。
模拟结果表明，与切迹型相比，标准型嗅裂中的气流更大。对于标准型，前区气流最大（0.5006 L/min），后区气流最小（0.1009 L/min）。切迹型的中气流最大（0.3267 L/min），后区气流最小（0.0756 L/min）。标准型乙醛和柠檬烯的中位数嗅觉气味通量更大（乙醛：标准= 140.45 pg/cm-s；切迹= 122.20 pg/cm-s。柠檬烯：标准= 0.67 pg/cm-s；切迹= 0.65 pg/cm-s）。切迹型二硝基甲苯通量更大（标准= 2.86×10pg/cm-s；切迹= 4.29×10pg/cm-s）。鼻前庭形态变化对嗅裂中气味通量的影响可能对嗅觉的个体差异有影响，需要进一步研究。
