What role do ion channels play when an odor molecule stimulates an olfactory receptor cell?

When an odor molecule binds to an olfactory receptor protein, it triggers a conformational change in the protein. This change initiates a sequence of chemical events within the cell involving second messengers.12

These second messengers act to regulate the opening of a large number of ion channels located in the cell membrane. The movement of positively charged ions through these channels alters the electrical potential across the cell membrane, creating a receptor potential. This electrical change is sufficient to trigger the production of action potentials, which transmit sensory information to the brain.12