Putative Transmitters in Denervated Olfactory Cortex

Olfactory bulb removal and the consequent degeneration of the lateral olfactory tract led to a selective change in putative synaptic transmitters of the denervated olfactory cortex of guinea‐pigs. Nine days after bulbectomy there was a significant decrease in content of aspartate (31%) and glutamate (20%) in olfactory cortex but no change in neocortex. The content of GABA, alanine and ACh in olfactory cortex was unchanged (± 3 per cent of control). The content of 5‐HT, dopamine, NE and glycine was increased by 10‐18 per cent. The decrease in aspartate and glutamate content of the olfactory cortex after bulbectomy suggests that these two amino acids have a high concentration in fibres of the lateral olfactory tract. This tissue may prove to be useful in determining the possible role of these acidic amino acids in neuronal function.