Sign In

A subscription to JoVE is required to view this content. Sign in or start your free trial.

In This Article

  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Introduction
  • Protocol
  • Representative Results
  • Discussion
  • Acknowledgements
  • Materials
  • References
  • Reprints and Permissions

Summary

This paper provides a detailed description of the buried food test and social odor discrimination experiment to assess the effects of inhaled environmental pollutants exposure on olfactory function in mice.

Abstract

Olfactory impairment is a significant public health problem and independently predicts the risk of neurodegenerative diseases. Inhaled environmental pollutants exposure may impair olfaction; thereby, there is an urgent need for methods to evaluate the effects of inhaled environmental pollutants exposure on olfaction. Mice are ideal models for olfactory experiments because of their highly developed olfactory system and behavioral characteristics. To assess the effects of inhaled environmental pollutants exposure on olfactory function in mice, a detailed buried food test and social odor discrimination experiment is provided, including the experiment preparation, the selection and construction of experimental facilities, the testing process, and indexes of time. Meanwhile, timekeeping equipment, operational details, and the experimental environment are discussed to ensure the success of the assay. Zinc sulfate is used as the treatment to demonstrate the feasibility of the experimental approach. The protocol provides a simple and clear operational process for assessing the effects of inhaled environmental pollutants on olfactory function in mice.

Introduction

Olfactory impairment has emerged as a noteworthy public health concern and is independently associated with an increased risk of neurodegenerative diseases. This condition can adversely affect overall well-being, contribute to the development of depressive symptoms, and result in a diminished quality of life. Its impact is prominently observed in the altered perception of food, hindrance in social communication, and heightened negative feelings1. Various factors, including sinonasal disease, upper respiratory tract infection, and traumatic brain injury, have been considered contributors to olfactory impairment in humans2....

Protocol

We used male C57BL/6J mice (age: 6-8 weeks; weight: 20-22 g) for all behavioral tests. The mice were subjected to steady conditions (i.e., temperature, 23 ± 1 °C; humidity, 55% ± 5%, and 12/12 h light-dark cycle with lights on at 7:00). All behavioral tests were performed between 10:00 and 17:00. All animal experiments were approved by the Ethics Committee of the Professional Committee of Animal Experiments of Qingdao University. After a 1-week acclimation period, all mice were exposed to inhalable environ.......

Representative Results

Inhalable environmental pollutants impair olfactory function in mice. Atmospheric zinc emitted from incinerators and motor vehicles has been demonstrated to be an inhaled pollutant that can result in allergic lung inflammation20. Zinc sulfate is considered one of the typical compounds to cause olfactory dysfunction21. Therefore, we use zinc sulfate as the treatment to expose mice by intranasal instillation and test using the buried food test and social odor discrimination e.......

Discussion

This article introduces two fundamental protocols designed for the swift assessment of olfactory impairment in mice. Varied inhalable environmental pollutants result in distinct levels of olfactory dysfunction in mice. The buried food test is employed to assess the capability to detect volatile odors, while the social odor discrimination experiment evaluates the animal's capacity to discern and differentiate various social odors. The protocol here serves to evaluate the toxic effects of environmental pollutants on ol.......

Acknowledgements

This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (82204088, 82273669) and the Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province, China (ZR2021QH209).

....

Materials

NameCompanyCatalog NumberComments
0.5-10 μL  adjustable micropipetteEppendorf, Germany3123000225Intranasal instillation
0.9% saline solutionSolarbio7647-14-5Dissolve pollutants
Anhydrous zinc sulfateMacklin7733-02-0Expose mice
Centrifuge tube (2 mL)Biosharp IncorporatedBS-20-MPlace urine
Electronic balanceChangzhou Ohaus Co.EX125DZHWeight anesthetics and pollutants
GraphPad PrismGraphPad Software8.0.1statistic analysis
Handheld Dust detectorTSI IncorporatedDuatTrak figure-materials-9888532Inhalation-exposed mice
Video recording equipmentApple Inc.iPhone 6s PlusThe activity time of mice was recorded
Vortex mixerHaimen Kylin-Bell Lab Instruments Co.Vortex-5 Mix solution

References

  1. Schäfer, L., Schriever, V. A., Croy, I. Human olfactory dysfunction: causes and consequences. Cell Tissue Res. 383 (1), 569-579 (2021).
  2. Keller, A., Malaspina, D. Hidden consequences of olfactory dysfunction: a patient report ....

Explore More Articles

Inhaled Environmental PollutantsOlfactory FunctionOlfactory ImpairmentNeurodegenerative DiseasesMice ModelsBehavioral CharacteristicsBuried Food TestSocial Odor DiscriminationExperimental ProtocolZinc SulfateTesting ProcessOperational Details

This article has been published

Video Coming Soon

JoVE Logo

Privacy

Terms of Use

Policies

Research

Education

ABOUT JoVE

Copyright © 2024 MyJoVE Corporation. All rights reserved