WE studied in individual males of Antheraea polyphemus the activity of
the sensillar esterase, a pheromone-degrading enzyme present in the s
ensillum lymph surrounding the olfactory receptor cells. In parallel,
receptor potentials from single pheromone-sensitive sensilla trichodea
were recorded. Our screening revealed a large variability of the enzy
me activity in individuals with similar electrophysiological responses
. In some moths the sensillar esterase was not detectable, i.e. presen
t with 100-fold less activity. However, such variable esterase activit
y showed no correlation to the time course of the receptor potential.
Thus, enzymatic pheromone degradation does not seem to be involved in
the rapid pheromone inactivation at the end of the stimulus, but rathe
r serves as the final pheromone sequestration step.