A dynamical feedback model for adaptation in the olfactory transduction pathway - Supporting Material

Patch clamp experiments on dissociated olfactory sensory neurons Olfactory sensory neurons were dissociated from the olfactory epithelium of newts (Cynops pyrrhogaster) as described in [12, 13], salamanders (Ambystoma tigrinum) as in [7] or mice (BALB/c strain) as in [14]. All experiments were carried out in accordance with the Italian Guidelines for the Use of Laboratory Animals (Decreto Legislativo 27/01/1992, no. 116). Olfactory sensory neurons were identified by their characteristic bipolar shape and only neurons with clearly visible cilia were used for the experiments. Currents were measured in the whole-cell voltage-clamp mode as previously described [13, 7, 14]. Transduction currents were elicited by odorant, IBMX, the photorelease of cAMP [13, 2] or its non-hydrolyzable form 8-Br-cAMP [2], and were recorded at a holding potential of -50 mV. IBMX was dissolved in DMSO at 100 mM and an aliquot was added to the Ringer solution to obtain a final concentration of 0.1 mM. IBMX was applied to the neurons through a glass micropipette by pressure ejection (Picospritzer, Intracel, United Kingdom). All experiments were performed at room temperature.