Olfactory bulb networks revealed by lateral olfactory tract stimulation in the in vitro isolated guinea-pig brain

Olfactory information processing is mediated by synaptic connections between the olfactory bulbs (OBs) and piriform–limbic cortices. Limited accessibility using common in vivo and in vitro preparations has hindered previous attempts to define these synaptic interactions. We utilized the isolated guinea-pig brain preparation to overcome these experimental limitations. Previous studies demonstrated extensive functional preservation in this preparation maintained in vitro by arterial perfusion.Field potential laminar profiles were performed with multi-channel probes in the OB following stimulation of both the lateral olfactory tract (LOT) and the anterior piriform cortex (APC). Current-source density analysis was carried out on laminar profiles to reconstruct current sinks/sources associated with intrinsic synaptic activities. LOT stimulation induced sequentially i) an antidromic population spike (at 2.66±0.39 ms) located in the mitral cell layer that was resistant to 100 Hz high-frequency stimulation (HFS) and 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (CNQX) (10 μM), ii) a component located in the external plexiform layer at 3.85±0.63 ms that was unaffected by HFS, iii) a large amplitude potential (peak amplitude at 5.84±0.58 ms) generated in the external plexiform layer, abolished by HFS and CNQX, but not by bicuculline (50 μM), iv) a late response (onset at 20.00±2.94 ms) abolished by CNQX and enhanced by bicuculline. Stimulation of the APC also induced a late potential abolished by HFS and CNQX. Both APC-evoked and late LOT-evoked responses were abolished by a transverse cut to separate OB from APC.These results demonstrate in an isolated mammalian brain preparation the presence of reciprocal synaptic interactions between the OB and piriform cortical structures.