Ta (TT), and the anterior cortical amygdaloid nucleus (ACo) and lateral entorhinal cortex (LEnt) in mice [2]. These regions of the 3687-18-1 custom synthesis Olfactory cortex directly receive synaptic input from the olfactory bulb [14,15] and appear to play a crucial role in the translation of features of inhaled molecules into rich, emotion and memoryevoking tinged perceptions called odors [15]. However, how NPSNPSR system regulates the olfactory behavior is unknown.NPS Facilitates Olfactory FunctionThe present study was designed to observe the effects of NPSNPSR system on the olfactory function in mice following intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injections. Olfactory abilities in mice were gauged using the buried food test (to assess the ability of detecting volatile odors) and olfactory habituation/dishabituation test (to assess the ability of detecting and distinguishing the same and different odors). Food intake test was used to clarify the relationship between olfaction and ingestion in mice after i.c.v. administration of NPS. To further identify potential neuronal targets of NPS in the olfactory cortex, NPS-induced Fos immunereactive (-ir) neurons were analyzed using ex vivo immunohistochemistry, and the presence of NPSR in these neurons was examined using dual-immunofluorescence microscopy.injection. Cannula was chronically fixed to skull with dental cement. A stainless-steel indwelling stylet (32 gauge) was inserted into the guide cannula to prevent occlusion.Drug administrationsNPS (mouse, Ser-Phe-Arg-Asn-Gly-Val-Gly-Ser-Gly-Ala-LysLys-Thr-Ser-Phe-Arg-Arg- Ala-Lys-Gln) and [D-Val5]NPS (human, Ser-Phe-Arg-Asn-D-Val-Val-Gly-Thr-Gly-Met-Lys-LysThr-Ser-Phe-Gln-Arg-Ala-Lys-Ser), gifts from Prof. Rui Wang, were synthesized by the Department 15481974 of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Life Science, 11967625 4EGI-1 manufacturer Lanzhou University [7,9,17]. Fresh NPS (0.1-1 nmol) and NPS (0.5 nmol) + [DVal5]NPS (20 or 40 nmol) were dissolved in 1 ml saline. The drugs and vehicle (saline) were administered through the planted guide cannula with the flow rate 1 ml/min at 17:00 on the test day. When an experiment was over, mice were injected i.c.v. with 1 ml methylene blue dye through guide cannula and were decapitated under deep anesthesia with chloral hydrate sodium 5 min later. Brains were removed and frozen. Gross dissection of the brain was used to verify the site of drugs or vehicle administration. Only data from animals with dye dispersion through out the ventricle were used.Materials and Methods Animals and surgical implantationAdult male C57BL/6J mice (6 weeks old), were purchased from Experimental Animal Central of Lanzhou University (Lanzhou, PR China). They were housed in an ambient temperature (2261uC) with a relative humidity of 50 on an automatically controlled 12:12-h light/dark cycle (lights on 8:00?0:00 h, illumination intensity < 100 lx). Food and water were available ad libitum except for the period of food deprivation. Each animal was used only once for between-group comparisons in the buried food test, olfactory habituation and dishabituation test, and food intake test. All animals were cared for, and experiments were conducted in accordance with the European Community guidelines for the use of experimental animals (86/609/EEC). The experimental protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of Lanzhou University (permit number: SCXK Gan 2009?004). Under chloral hydrate anesthesia (350 mg/kg, i.p.), mice were placed in a stereotaxic apparatus. A stainless-steel guide.Ta (TT), and the anterior cortical amygdaloid nucleus (ACo) and lateral entorhinal cortex (LEnt) in mice [2]. These regions of the olfactory cortex directly receive synaptic input from the olfactory bulb [14,15] and appear to play a crucial role in the translation of features of inhaled molecules into rich, emotion and memoryevoking tinged perceptions called odors [15]. However, how NPSNPSR system regulates the olfactory behavior is unknown.NPS Facilitates Olfactory FunctionThe present study was designed to observe the effects of NPSNPSR system on the olfactory function in mice following intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injections. Olfactory abilities in mice were gauged using the buried food test (to assess the ability of detecting volatile odors) and olfactory habituation/dishabituation test (to assess the ability of detecting and distinguishing the same and different odors). Food intake test was used to clarify the relationship between olfaction and ingestion in mice after i.c.v. administration of NPS. To further identify potential neuronal targets of NPS in the olfactory cortex, NPS-induced Fos immunereactive (-ir) neurons were analyzed using ex vivo immunohistochemistry, and the presence of NPSR in these neurons was examined using dual-immunofluorescence microscopy.injection. Cannula was chronically fixed to skull with dental cement. A stainless-steel indwelling stylet (32 gauge) was inserted into the guide cannula to prevent occlusion.Drug administrationsNPS (mouse, Ser-Phe-Arg-Asn-Gly-Val-Gly-Ser-Gly-Ala-LysLys-Thr-Ser-Phe-Arg-Arg- Ala-Lys-Gln) and [D-Val5]NPS (human, Ser-Phe-Arg-Asn-D-Val-Val-Gly-Thr-Gly-Met-Lys-LysThr-Ser-Phe-Gln-Arg-Ala-Lys-Ser), gifts from Prof. Rui Wang, were synthesized by the Department 15481974 of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Life Science, 11967625 Lanzhou University [7,9,17]. Fresh NPS (0.1-1 nmol) and NPS (0.5 nmol) + [DVal5]NPS (20 or 40 nmol) were dissolved in 1 ml saline. The drugs and vehicle (saline) were administered through the planted guide cannula with the flow rate 1 ml/min at 17:00 on the test day. When an experiment was over, mice were injected i.c.v. with 1 ml methylene blue dye through guide cannula and were decapitated under deep anesthesia with chloral hydrate sodium 5 min later. Brains were removed and frozen. Gross dissection of the brain was used to verify the site of drugs or vehicle administration. Only data from animals with dye dispersion through out the ventricle were used.Materials and Methods Animals and surgical implantationAdult male C57BL/6J mice (6 weeks old), were purchased from Experimental Animal Central of Lanzhou University (Lanzhou, PR China). They were housed in an ambient temperature (2261uC) with a relative humidity of 50 on an automatically controlled 12:12-h light/dark cycle (lights on 8:00?0:00 h, illumination intensity < 100 lx). Food and water were available ad libitum except for the period of food deprivation. Each animal was used only once for between-group comparisons in the buried food test, olfactory habituation and dishabituation test, and food intake test. All animals were cared for, and experiments were conducted in accordance with the European Community guidelines for the use of experimental animals (86/609/EEC). The experimental protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of Lanzhou University (permit number: SCXK Gan 2009?004). Under chloral hydrate anesthesia (350 mg/kg, i.p.), mice were placed in a stereotaxic apparatus. A stainless-steel guide.