THE ENDOCRINE CONTROL OF OLFACTORY RECEPT ION

There was studied the endocrine control of the first stage of olfactor y reception. In the experiments with male castration it was detected t hat the olfactory receptor cells had a slow tonic influence on sex ste roid hormones. The most dependent on the hormone control were the olfa ctory cells sensitive to natural stimuli. From the morphological data it was supposed that this influence was realized through the control o f process of neurogenesis of the olfactory cells. On another experimen tal modelestral females. Which had quick changes of sex hormone level, it was detected that the reason for the olfactory sensitivity to odor variations during estrus cycle did not localized in the peripheral pa rt of the olfactory system. Apparently the quick endocrine influence w as realized at the central part of the olfactory system.