Olfaction and Satiety

Sensory Signals (The Royal College of Physicians, London, UK) (2022) Proc Physiol Soc 50, SA20

Research Symposium: Olfaction and Satiety

Jamie Johnston1

1School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom


A feedback loop exists between the digestive and olfactory systems: Disruption of olfactory input provides protection form diet induced obesity. Conversely, the olfactory system is sensitive to metabolic signals such as insulin which, when applied exogenously, can reduce olfactory sensitivity.  We have been investigating how such satiety signals modulate function within the olfactory bulb and demonstrate a key role for inhibitory periglomerular neurons using in vivo and in vitro imaging and electrophysiology.  Periglomerular neurons express insulin receptors and, in a subset, insulin inhibits a voltage-gated potassium current normally active around resting membrane potentials. How this metabolic sensitivity of periglomerular neurons impacts upon the function of the olfactory bulb will be addressed.



Where applicable, experiments conform with Society ethical requirements.

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