Abstract: Primary cultures of purified olfactory neurons can be stimulated with physiological levels of ordorants. The neurons of the cultures express markers characteristic of mature olfactory neurons in vivo, such as vimentin, olfactory marker protein and neuron-specific enolase. The cultures are useful for screening for odorants and antagonists, as well as for biochemical and physiological studies of olfactory transduction. The olfactory neurons may contain at least about 95% of cells in the culture. The olfactory neurons demonstrate responsiveness in culture to IBMP, citraliva, and isovaleric acid.