Studies in olfactory acuity. II.: Relative detectability of n-aliphatic alcohols by the rat

The ability of albino and black rats to detect n-aliphatic alcohols in the vapour phase has been investigated and probit analysis used to evaluate the results. At median threshold (= 50 per cent, success level) detectability tends to increase by logarithmic increments as the number of carbon atoms in the molecule is increased. However, a similar but reverse relationship occurs between carbon chain length and the gradient of the probit regression lines; and detectability at the 85 per cent. success level, as estimated by interpolation, shows a trend towards oscillation. It is suggested that this finding can resolve the apparent conflict in the literature concerning the pattern of odour intensity in homologous series, and that it may reflect the influence of low water solubility in limiting response to high concentrations of longer chain alcohols.

When expressed as pressures, median threshold values for alcohols in the rat vary directly with saturated vapour pressures; when expressed as thermodynamic activities intermediate and longer chain alcohols appear to be equally stimulating, whilst short chain alcohols show decreasing activities as the series is ascended. In several of the relations considered the position of methanol and dodecanol appears anomalous.