Screening apparatus and method, olfactory mucosa stimulating compound obtained by screening method, therapeutic apparatus, and measuring electrode portion

Abstract

A method and apparatus for readily and reliably screening olfactory mucosa stimulating compounds are provided. An olfactory mucosa stimulating compound is sprayed through an atomizing nozzle 33 to an olfactory mucosa of a rat fixed in a test animal fixing device 32 . A measuring electrode portion 10 is implanted in an olfactory bulb of the rat for measuring an electrical signal generated in the olfactory bulb. Efficacy of the olfactory mucosa stimulating compound is determined based on a correlation between an electrical signal measured by the measuring electrode portion 10 when the olfactory mucosa stimulating compound is sprayed on the olfactory mucosa of the rat and a physiological response induced in the rat.

1 . a measuring electrode portion, which is implanted in an olfactory bulb of a test animal for measuring an electrical signal generated in an olfactory bulb or supplying an electrical signal to the olfactory bulb, the measuring electrode portion comprising a plurality of micro electrodes, each of which detects an electrical signal from a nerve cell of the olfactory bulb, wherein 
 the micro electrodes are arranged based on an electrical signal pattern which is generated in the olfactory bulb as a result of administration of an olfactory mucosa stimulating compound to an olfactory mucosa of the test animal.    
     
     
         2 . A measuring electrode portion according to  claim 1 , 
 wherein each of the micro electrodes has an area of 1 μm 2  to 100,000,000 μm 2 .    
     
     
         3 . A measuring electrode portion according to  claim 2 , 
 wherein the micro electrodes are arranged in a matrix.    
     
     
         4 . A measuring electrode portion according to  claim 3 , 
 wherein an interval between adjacent micro electrodes is 10 to 10,000 μm.    
     
     
         5 . A measuring electrode portion according to  claim 3 , 
 wherein: the micro electrode is formed at a tip of a needle-shaped conductive lead; a predetermined number of needle-shaped conductive leads are bound together such that the micro electrodes are placed with a predetermined interval, so as to form an electrode column;    and a plurality of electrode columns are placed in parallel to each other with a predetermined interval therebetween.    
     
     
         6 . A measuring electrode portion according to  claim 5 , 
 wherein the needle-shaped conductive lead has a diameter of 1 μm to 1,000 μm.    
     
     
         7 . A measuring electrode portion according to  claim 5 , 
 wherein the needle-shaped conductive lead is formed by covering a needle-shaped conductive material with an insulative film except for the micro electrode at the tip thereof.    
     
     
         8 . A measuring electrode portion according to  claim 7 , 
 wherein the conductive material of the needle-shaped conductive lead is any of gold, platinum, ITO, titanium nitride, copper, silver, tungsten, and conductive rubber.    
     
     
         9 . A measuring electrode portion according to  claim 7 , 
 wherein the insulative film that covers the needle-shaped conductive lead is any of polystyrene, acrylic resins, polycarbonate, polyimide.    
     
     
         10 . A measuring electrode portion according to  claim 5 , 
 wherein the tip of the needle-shaped conductive lead is covered with a film of a biomaterial.    
     
     
         11 . A measuring electrode portion according to  claim 1 , 
 wherein each of the micro electrodes is placed on a film-shaped substrate.    
     
     
         12 . A measuring electrode portion according to  claim 11 , 
 wherein each of the micro electrodes has the shape of a ring, and is placed around a periphery of a through-hole formed in the substrate.    
     
     
         13 . A measuring electrode portion according to  claim 12 , 
 wherein the inner diameter of the through-hole formed in the substrate is equal to or smaller than 10,000 μm.    
     
     
         14 . A measuring electrode portion according to  claim 11 , 
 wherein the micro electrodes are formed of any of gold, platinum, ITO, titanium nitride, copper, silver, and tungsten.    
     
     
         15 . A measuring electrode portion according to  claim 11 , 
 wherein the substrate is made of a biomaterial.    
     
     
         16 . A measuring electrode portion according to  claim 11 , 
 wherein the substrate is made of any of polyethylene terephthalate, teflon, silicone rubber, a semiconductor material, and electrically conductive rubber.    
     
     
         17 . A measuring electrode portion according to  claim 1 , 
 wherein: the micro electrodes are provided on a front surface and a back surface at the same positions; each micro electrode provided on one of the surfaces of the substrate detects an electrical signal pattern which induces a physiological response in a test animal; and each micro electrode provided on the other surface of the substrate applies a signal which is the same as or different from the detected signal.    
     
     
         18 . A measuring electrode portion according to  claim 1 , wherein the micro electrode is covered in a film of a bio-material.