Document Detail


Structure-activity relationships on the odor detectability of homologous carboxylic acids by humans.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  20931179     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
We measured concentration detection functions for the odor detectability of the homologs: formic, acetic, butyric, hexanoic, and octanoic acids. Subjects (14 ≤ n ≤ 18) comprised young (19-37 years), healthy, nonsmoker, and normosmic participants from both genders. Vapors were delivered by air dilution olfactometry, using a three-alternative forced-choice procedure against carbon-filtered air, and an ascending concentration approach. Delivered concentrations were established by gas chromatography (flame ionization detector) in parallel with testing. Group and individual olfactory functions were modeled by a sigmoid (logistic) equation from which two parameters are calculated: C, the odor detection threshold (ODT) and D, the steepness of the function. Thresholds declined with carbon chain length along formic, acetic, and butyric acid where they reached a minimum (ODTs = 514, 5.2, and 0.26 ppb by volume, respectively). Then, they increased for hexanoic (1.0 ppb) and octanoic (0.86 ppb) acid. Odor thresholds and interindividual differences in olfactory acuity among these young, normosmic participants were lower than traditionally thought and reported. No significant effects of gender on odor detectability were observed. The finding of an optimum molecular size for odor potency along homologs confirms a prediction made by a model of ODTs based on a solvation equation. We discuss the mechanistic implications of this model for the process of olfactory detection.
Authors:
J Enrique Cometto-Muñiz; Michael H Abraham
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural     Date:  2010-10-08
Journal Detail:
Title:  Experimental brain research. Experimentelle Hirnforschung. Expérimentation cérébrale     Volume:  207     ISSN:  1432-1106     ISO Abbreviation:  Exp Brain Res     Publication Date:  2010 Nov 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2010-10-27     Completed Date:  2011-02-04     Revised Date:  2011-05-05    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0043312     Medline TA:  Exp Brain Res     Country:  Germany    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  75-84     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Chemosensory Perception Laboratory, Department of Surgery Otolaryngology, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr, Mail Code 0957, La Jolla, CA 92093-0957, USA. ecometto@ucsd.edu
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adult
Carboxylic Acids / chemistry*
Chromatography, Gas
Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
Female
Humans
Male
Odors*
Olfactory Perception / physiology*
Sensory Thresholds / physiology
Smell / physiology
Structure-Activity Relationship
Grant Support
ID/Acronym/Agency:
R01 DC002741/DC/NIDCD NIH HHS; R01 DC002741-14/DC/NIDCD NIH HHS
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Carboxylic Acids

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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