Chemicals in laboratory room air stimulate olfactory neurons of female Bombyx mori

Laboratory air contained odorants that elicited electrophysiological respon ses in female Bombyx mori antennae. Air entrainments on charcoal filters, e xtracted with CS2 and subsequently with acetone, were analyzed by coupled g as chromatography (GC)-electroantennogram (EAG) as well as by GC-mass spect rometry The CS2 extract contained 12 EAG-active peaks from which benzaldehy de, octanal, limonene, 1,8-cineol, methyl benzoate, nonanal, decanal and ge ranyl acetone were identified. In the acetone extract we identified eight E AG-active peaks as phenol, nonanal, 2-ethylhexanoic acid, octanoic acid, be nzoic acid, nonanoic acid, decanoic acid and dimethyl phthalate. The concen trations of benzoic acid and benzaldehyde present in laboratory air were de termined. The origin of the substances and importance of such odorants in l aboratory air for the interpretation of physiological experiments on the ol factory system is discussed.