Possible effects of nitric oxide synthases on odor-induced behavioral changes in mice

• Published in: Neuroscience letters 2014-05, Vol.569, p.158-162
• Main Authors: Sung, Kyunghwa, Kim, Minjeong, Hyun, Jiyoung, Kim, Younghee, Kim, Kisok
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 2-Methylbutyric acid; Animals; Avoidance Learning; Behavior, Animal; Behavioral change; Butyrates - pharmacology; Male; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Motor Activity; Nitric Oxide - metabolism; Nitric oxide synthase; Nitric Oxide Synthase - metabolism; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I - metabolism; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II - metabolism; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III - metabolism; Odorants; Olfactory bulb; Olfactory Bulb - metabolism; Rotarod Performance Test
• ISSN: 0304-3940; 1872-7972
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2014.04.005

•Mice exposed to 2-methylbutyric acid exhibit increased olfactory avoidance and rotarod activity.•Inhalation exposure to 2-methylbutyric acid increased the expression of eNOS in the olfactory bulb of mice.•Behavioral effects of 2-methylbutyric acid may be mediated through the altered NOS homeostasis in the olfactory bulb. Although exposure to olfactory stimulants can induce neurobehavioral changes, there is a lack of data regarding specific effects on neurotransduction, especially nitric oxide (NO)-mediated neurotransduction. We investigated the relationship between altered behavioral performance and changes in the expression of nitric oxide synthase (NOS), nNOS, iNOS, and eNOS, in 2-methylbutyric (2MB) acid-exposed mice. Mice were exposed to 2MB acid by inhalation and olfactory preference/avoidance and motor coordination were measured. Additionally, we examined NOS expression in the olfactory bulb of the mouse brain. Mice exposed to 2MB acid showed significant changes in olfactory preference and rotarod activity as compared with controls. Although there was no change in nNOS and iNOS expressions in the olfactory bulb of 2MB acid-exposed mice, eNOS expression increased significantly in the olfactory bulb of 9.0M 2MB acid-exposed mice. These data indicate that altered eNOS expression in the olfactory bulb may contribute to 2MB acid-induced behavioral changes.