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Ruiz-Rubio S, Ortiz-Leal I, Torres MV, Somoano A, Sanchez-Quinteiro P. Do fossorial water voles have a functional vomeronasal organ? A histological and immunohistochemical study. Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2024; 307:2912-2932. [PMID: 38112130 DOI: 10.1002/ar.25374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Revised: 12/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023]
Abstract
The fossorial water vole, Arvicola scherman, is an herbivorous rodent that causes significant agricultural damages. The application of cairomones and alarm pheromones emerges as a promising sustainable method to improve its integrated management. These chemical signals would induce stress responses that could interfere with the species regular reproductive cycles and induce aversive reactions, steering them away from farmlands and meadows. However, there is a paucity of information regarding the water vole vomeronasal system, both in its morphological foundations and its functionality, making it imperative to understand the same for the application of chemical communication in pest control. This study fills the existing gaps in knowledge through a morphological and immunohistochemical analysis of the fossorial water vole vomeronasal organ. The study is primarily microscopic, employing two approaches: histological, using serial sections stained with various dyes (hematoxylin-eosin, Periodic acid-Schiff, Alcian blue, Nissl), and immunohistochemical, applying various markers that provide morphofunctional and structural information. These procedures have confirmed the presence of a functional vomeronasal system in fossorial water voles, characterized by a high degree of differentiation and a significant expression of cellular markers indicative of active chemical communication in this species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Ruiz-Rubio
- Department of Anatomy, Animal Production and Clinical Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain
| | - Irene Ortiz-Leal
- Department of Anatomy, Animal Production and Clinical Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain
| | - Mateo V Torres
- Department of Anatomy, Animal Production and Clinical Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain
| | - Aitor Somoano
- Servicio Regional de Investigación y Desarrollo Agroalimentario (SERIDA), Villaviciosa, Asturias, Spain
| | - Pablo Sanchez-Quinteiro
- Department of Anatomy, Animal Production and Clinical Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain
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Weiss J, Vacher H, Trouillet AC, Leinders-Zufall T, Zufall F, Chamero P. Sensing and avoiding sick conspecifics requires Gαi2 + vomeronasal neurons. BMC Biol 2023; 21:152. [PMID: 37424020 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-023-01653-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rodents utilize chemical cues to recognize and avoid other conspecifics infected with pathogens. Infection with pathogens and acute inflammation alter the repertoire and signature of olfactory stimuli emitted by a sick individual. These cues are recognized by healthy conspecifics via the vomeronasal or accessory olfactory system, triggering an innate form of avoidance behavior. However, the molecular identity of the sensory neurons and the higher neural circuits involved in the detection of sick conspecifics remain poorly understood. RESULTS We employed mice that are in an acute state of inflammation induced by systemic administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Through conditional knockout of the G-protein Gαi2 and deletion of other key sensory transduction molecules (Trpc2 and a cluster of 16 vomeronasal type 1 receptors), in combination with behavioral testing, subcellular Ca2+ imaging, and pS6 and c-Fos neuronal activity mapping in freely behaving mice, we show that the Gαi2+ vomeronasal subsystem is required for the detection and avoidance of LPS-treated mice. The active components underlying this avoidance are contained in urine whereas feces extract and two selected bile acids, although detected in a Gαi2-dependent manner, failed to evoke avoidance behavior. Our analyses of dendritic Ca2+ responses in vomeronasal sensory neurons provide insight into the discrimination capabilities of these neurons for urine fractions from LPS-treated mice, and how this discrimination depends on Gαi2. We observed Gαi2-dependent stimulation of multiple brain areas including medial amygdala, ventromedial hypothalamus, and periaqueductal grey. We also identified the lateral habenula, a brain region implicated in negative reward prediction in aversive learning, as a previously unknown target involved in these tasks. CONCLUSIONS Our physiological and behavioral analyses indicate that the sensing and avoidance of LPS-treated sick conspecifics depend on the Gαi2 vomeronasal subsystem. Our observations point to a central role of brain circuits downstream of the olfactory periphery and in the lateral habenula in the detection and avoidance of sick conspecifics, providing new insights into the neural substrates and circuit logic of the sensing of inflammation in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Weiss
- Center for Integrative Physiology and Molecular Medicine, Saarland University, 66421, Homburg, Germany.
| | - Hélène Vacher
- Laboratoire de Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, UMR 0085 INRAE-CNRS-IFCE-University of Tours, Nouzilly, France
| | - Anne-Charlotte Trouillet
- Laboratoire de Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, UMR 0085 INRAE-CNRS-IFCE-University of Tours, Nouzilly, France
| | - Trese Leinders-Zufall
- Center for Integrative Physiology and Molecular Medicine, Saarland University, 66421, Homburg, Germany
| | - Frank Zufall
- Center for Integrative Physiology and Molecular Medicine, Saarland University, 66421, Homburg, Germany.
| | - Pablo Chamero
- Laboratoire de Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, UMR 0085 INRAE-CNRS-IFCE-University of Tours, Nouzilly, France.
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Zhang W, Huang H, Gui A, Mu D, Zhao T, Li H, Watanabe K, Xiao Z, Ye H, Xu Y. Contactin-6-deficient male mice exhibit the abnormal function of the accessory olfactory system and impaired reproductive behavior. Brain Behav 2023; 13:e2893. [PMID: 36860170 PMCID: PMC10097056 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.2893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Contactin-6 (CNTN6), also known as NB-3, is a neural recognition molecule and a member of the contactin subgroup of the immunoglobulin superfamily. Gene encoding CNTN6 is expressed in many regions of the neural system, including the accessory olfactory bulb (AOB) in mice. We aim to determine the effect of CNTN6 deficiency on the function of the accessory olfactory system (AOS). METHODS We examined the effect of CNTN6 deficiency on the reproductive behavior of male mice through behavioral experiments such as urine sniffing and mate preference tests. Staining and electron microscopy were used to observe the gross structure and the circuitry activity of the AOS. RESULTS Cntn6 is highly expressed in the vomeronasal organ (VNO) and the AOB, and sparsely expressed in the medial amygdala (MeA) and the medial preoptic area (MPOA), which receive direct and/or indirect projections from the AOB. Behavioral tests to examine reproductive function in mice, which is mostly controlled by the AOS, revealed that Cntn6-/- adult male mice showed less interest and reduced mating attempts toward estrous female mice in comparison with their Cntn6+/+ littermates. Although Cntn6-/- adult male mice displayed no obvious changes in the gross structure of the VNO or AOB, we observed the increased activation of granule cells in the AOB and the lower activation of neurons in the MeA and the MPOA as compared with Cntn6+/+ adult male mice. Moreover, there were an increased number of synapses between mitral cells and granule cells in the AOB of Cntn6-/- adult male mice as compared with wild-type controls. CONCLUSION These results indicate that CNTN6 deficiency affects the reproductive behavior of male mice, suggesting that CNTN6 participated in normal function of the AOS and its ablation was involved in synapse formation between mitral and granule cells in the AOB, rather than affecting the gross structure of the AOS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Zhang
- Department of Medical Genetics and Developmental Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing Key Laboratory of Neural Regeneration and Repair, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Huiling Huang
- Department of Medical Genetics and Developmental Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing Key Laboratory of Neural Regeneration and Repair, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Ailing Gui
- Department of Medical Genetics and Developmental Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing Key Laboratory of Neural Regeneration and Repair, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Di Mu
- Department of Medical Genetics and Developmental Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing Key Laboratory of Neural Regeneration and Repair, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Tian Zhao
- Department of Medical Genetics and Developmental Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing Key Laboratory of Neural Regeneration and Repair, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Hongtao Li
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, College of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Kazutada Watanabe
- Department of Bioengineering, Nagaoka University of Technology, Nagaoka, Niigata, Japan
| | - Zhicheng Xiao
- The Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Institute of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China.,Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash University, Clayton, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Haihong Ye
- Department of Medical Genetics and Developmental Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing Key Laboratory of Neural Regeneration and Repair, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Yiliang Xu
- Department of Medical Genetics and Developmental Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing Key Laboratory of Neural Regeneration and Repair, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
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Gutierrez-Castellanos N, Husain BFA, Dias IC, Lima SQ. Neural and behavioral plasticity across the female reproductive cycle. Trends Endocrinol Metab 2022; 33:769-785. [PMID: 36253276 DOI: 10.1016/j.tem.2022.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Revised: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Sex is fundamental for the evolution and survival of most species. However, sex can also pose danger, because it increases the risk of predation and disease transmission, among others. Thus, in many species, cyclic fluctuations in the concentration of sex hormones coordinate sexual receptivity and attractiveness with female reproductive capacity, promoting copulation when fertilization is possible and preventing it otherwise. In recent decades, numerous studies have reported a wide variety of sex hormone-dependent plastic rearrangements across the entire brain, including areas relevant for female sexual behavior. By contrast, how sex hormone-induced plasticity alters the computations performed by such circuits, such that collectively they produce the appropriate periodic switches in female behavior, is mostly unknown. In this review, we highlight the myriad sex hormone-induced neuronal changes known so far, the full repertoire of behavioral changes across the reproductive cycle, and the few examples where the relationship between sex hormone-dependent plasticity, neural activity, and behavior has been established. We also discuss current challenges to causally link the actions of sex hormones to the modification of specific cellular pathways and behavior, focusing on rodents as a model system while drawing a comparison between rodents and humans wherever possible.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Basma F A Husain
- Champalimaud Research, Champalimaud Foundation, Avenida Brasília, 1400-038 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Inês C Dias
- Champalimaud Research, Champalimaud Foundation, Avenida Brasília, 1400-038 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Susana Q Lima
- Champalimaud Research, Champalimaud Foundation, Avenida Brasília, 1400-038 Lisbon, Portugal.
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Lin JM, Mitchell TA, Rothstein M, Pehl A, Taroc EZM, Katreddi RR, Parra KE, Zuloaga DG, Simoes-Costa M, Forni PE. Sociosexual behavior requires both activating and repressive roles of Tfap2e/AP-2ε in vomeronasal sensory neurons. eLife 2022; 11:e77259. [PMID: 36111787 PMCID: PMC9525060 DOI: 10.7554/elife.77259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuronal identity dictates the position in an epithelium, and the ability to detect, process, and transmit specific signals to specified targets. Transcription factors (TFs) determine cellular identity via direct modulation of genetic transcription and recruiting chromatin modifiers. However, our understanding of the mechanisms that define neuronal identity and their magnitude remain a critical barrier to elucidate the etiology of congenital and neurodegenerative disorders. The rodent vomeronasal organ provides a unique system to examine in detail the molecular mechanisms underlying the differentiation and maturation of chemosensory neurons. Here, we demonstrated that the identity of postmitotic/maturing vomeronasal sensory neurons (VSNs), and vomeronasal-dependent behaviors can be reprogrammed through the rescue of Tfap2e/AP-2ε expression in the Tfap2eNull mice, and partially reprogrammed by inducing ectopic Tfap2e expression in mature apical VSNs. We suggest that the TF Tfap2e can reprogram VSNs bypassing cellular plasticity restrictions, and that it directly controls the expression of batteries of vomeronasal genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer M Lin
- Department of Biological Sciences, University at Albany, State University of New YorkAlbanyUnited States
- The RNA Institute, University at AlbanyAlbanyUnited States
| | - Tyler A Mitchell
- Department of Biological Sciences, University at Albany, State University of New YorkAlbanyUnited States
- The RNA Institute, University at AlbanyAlbanyUnited States
| | - Megan Rothstein
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell UniversityIthacaUnited States
| | - Alison Pehl
- Department of Biological Sciences, University at Albany, State University of New YorkAlbanyUnited States
- The RNA Institute, University at AlbanyAlbanyUnited States
| | - Ed Zandro M Taroc
- Department of Biological Sciences, University at Albany, State University of New YorkAlbanyUnited States
- The RNA Institute, University at AlbanyAlbanyUnited States
| | - Raghu R Katreddi
- Department of Biological Sciences, University at Albany, State University of New YorkAlbanyUnited States
- The RNA Institute, University at AlbanyAlbanyUnited States
| | - Katherine E Parra
- Department of Psychology, University at Albany, State University of New YorkAlbanyUnited States
| | - Damian G Zuloaga
- Department of Psychology, University at Albany, State University of New YorkAlbanyUnited States
| | - Marcos Simoes-Costa
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell UniversityIthacaUnited States
| | - Paolo Emanuele Forni
- Department of Biological Sciences, University at Albany, State University of New YorkAlbanyUnited States
- The RNA Institute, University at AlbanyAlbanyUnited States
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Kondoh D, Kawai YK, Watanabe K, Muranishi Y. Artiodactyl livestock species have a uniform vomeronasal system with a vomeronasal type 1 receptor (V1R) pathway. Tissue Cell 2022; 77:101863. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tice.2022.101863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2022] [Revised: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
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Tomiyasu J, Korzekwa A, Kawai YK, Robstad CA, Rosell F, Kondoh D. The vomeronasal system in semiaquatic beavers. J Anat 2022; 241:809-819. [PMID: 35437747 DOI: 10.1111/joa.13671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Revised: 03/16/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
In contrast to the main olfactory system that detects volatile chemicals in the nasal air, the vomeronasal system can detect nonvolatile chemicals as well as volatiles. In the vomeronasal system, chemicals are perceived by the vomeronasal organ (VNO) projecting axons to the accessory olfactory bulb (AOB). Beavers (Castor spp.) are semiaquatic mammals that have developed chemical communication. It is possible that the beaver's anal gland secretions, nonvolatile and insoluble substances, may work as a messenger in the water and that beavers may detect the nonvolatile chemicals floating on the water surface via the VNO. The present study aimed to clarify the specificities of the beaver vomeronasal system by histologically and immunohistochemically analyzing the VNO and AOB of 12 Eurasian beavers (C. fiber). The VNO directly opened to the nasal cavity and was independent of a narrow nasopalatine duct connecting the oral and nasal cavities. The VNO comprised soft tissues including sensory and nonsensory epithelium, glands, a venous sinus, an artery, as well as cartilage inner, and bone outer enclosures. The AOB had distinct six layers, and anti-G protein α-i2 and α-o subunits were, respectively, immunoreactive in rostral and caudal glomeruli layers indicating expressions of V1Rs and V2Rs. According to gene repertories analysis, the beavers had 23 and six intact V1R and V2R genes respectively. These findings suggested that beavers recognize volatile odorants and nonvolatile substances using the vomeronasal system. The beaver VNO was developed as well as in other rodents, and it had two specific morphological features, namely, disadvantaged contact with the oral cavity because of a tiny nasopalatine duct, and a double bone and cartilage envelope. Our results highlight the importance of the vomeronasal system in beaver chemical communication and support the possibility that beavers can detect chemicals floating on the water surface via the VNO.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jumpei Tomiyasu
- Department of Biodiversity Protection, Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Anna Korzekwa
- Department of Biodiversity Protection, Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Yusuke K Kawai
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Japan
| | - Christian A Robstad
- Department of Natural Sciences and Environmental Health, Faculty of Technology, Natural Sciences and Maritime Sciences, University of South-Eastern Norway, Telemark, Norway
| | - Frank Rosell
- Department of Natural Sciences and Environmental Health, Faculty of Technology, Natural Sciences and Maritime Sciences, University of South-Eastern Norway, Telemark, Norway
| | - Daisuke Kondoh
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Japan
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Neuroanatomical and Immunohistological Study of the Main and Accessory Olfactory Bulbs of the Meerkat ( Suricata suricatta). Animals (Basel) 2021; 12:ani12010091. [PMID: 35011198 PMCID: PMC8749820 DOI: 10.3390/ani12010091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 12/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary In wild mammals, chemical senses are crucial to survival, but sensory system information is lacking for many species, including the meerkat (Suricata suricatta), an iconic mammal with a marked social hierarchy that has been ambiguously classified in both canid and felid families. We studied the neuroanatomical basis of the meerkat olfactory and accessory olfactory bulbs, aiming to provide information on the relevance of both systems to the behaviors of this species and contributing to improving its taxonomic classification. The accessory olfactory bulb serves as the integration center of vomeronasal information. When examined microscopically, the accessory olfactory bulb of the meerkat presents a lamination pattern more defined than observed in dogs and approaching the pattern described in cats. The degree of lamination and development in the meerkat main olfactory bulb is comparable to the general pattern observed in mammals but with numerous specific features. Our study supports the functionality of the olfactory and vomeronasal integrative centers in meerkats and places this species within the suborder Feliformia. Our study also confirms the importance of chemical signals in mediating the social behaviors of this species and provides essential neuroanatomical information for understanding the functioning of their chemical senses. Abstract We approached the study of the main (MOB) and accessory olfactory bulbs (AOB) of the meerkat (Suricata suricatta) aiming to fill important gaps in knowledge regarding the neuroanatomical basis of olfactory and pheromonal signal processing in this iconic species. Microdissection techniques were used to extract the olfactory bulbs. The samples were subjected to hematoxylin-eosin and Nissl stains, histochemical (Ulex europaeus agglutinin, Lycopersicon esculentum agglutinin) and immunohistochemical labelling (Gαo, Gαi2, calretinin, calbindin, olfactory marker protein, glial fibrillary acidic protein, microtubule-associated protein 2, SMI-32, growth-associated protein 43). Microscopically, the meerkat AOB lamination pattern is more defined than the dog’s, approaching that described in cats, with well-defined glomeruli and a wide mitral-plexiform layer, with scattered main cells and granular cells organized in clusters. The degree of lamination and development of the meerkat MOB suggests a macrosmatic mammalian species. Calcium-binding proteins allow for the discrimination of atypical glomerular subpopulations in the olfactory limbus between the MOB and AOB. Our observations support AOB functionality in the meerkat, indicating chemosensory specialization for the detection of pheromones, as identified by the characterization of the V1R vomeronasal receptor family and the apparent deterioration of the V2R receptor family.
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Does a third intermediate model for the vomeronasal processing of information exist? Insights from the macropodid neuroanatomy. Brain Struct Funct 2021; 227:881-899. [PMID: 34800143 PMCID: PMC8930919 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-021-02425-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 11/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The study of the α-subunit of Gi2 and Go proteins in the accessory olfactory bulb (AOB) was crucial for the identification of the two main families of vomeronasal receptors, V1R and V2R. Both families are expressed in the rodent and lagomorph AOBs, according to a segregated model characterized by topographical anteroposterior zonation. Many mammal species have suffered from the deterioration of the Gαo pathway and are categorized as belonging to the uniform model. This scenario has been complicated by characterization of the AOB in the tammar wallaby, Notamacropus eugenii, which appears to follow a third model of vomeronasal organization featuring exclusive Gαo protein expression, referred to as the intermediate model, which has not yet been replicated in any other species. Our morphofunctional study of the vomeronasal system (VNS) in Bennett’s wallaby, Notamacropus rufogriseus, provides further information regarding this third model of vomeronasal transduction. A comprehensive histological, lectin, and immunohistochemical study of the Bennett’s wallaby VNS was performed. Anti-Gαo and anti-Gαi2 antibodies were particularly useful because they labeled the transduction cascade of V2R and V1R receptors, respectively. Both G proteins showed canonical immunohistochemical labeling in the vomeronasal organ and the AOB, consistent with the anterior–posterior zonation of the segregated model. The lectin Ulex europaeus agglutinin selectively labeled the anterior AOB, providing additional evidence for the segregation of vomeronasal information in the wallaby. Overall, the VNS of the Bennett’s wallaby shows a degree of differentiation and histochemical and neurochemical diversity comparable to species with greater VNS development. The existence of the third intermediate type in vomeronasal information processing reported in Notamacropus eugenii is not supported by our lectin-histochemical and immunohistochemical findings in Notamacropus rufogriseus.
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10
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Comparative analysis of the olfactory organs in selected species of marine sharks and freshwater batoids. ZOOL ANZ 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcz.2021.07.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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Manzini I, Schild D, Di Natale C. Principles of odor coding in vertebrates and artificial chemosensory systems. Physiol Rev 2021; 102:61-154. [PMID: 34254835 DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00036.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The biological olfactory system is the sensory system responsible for the detection of the chemical composition of the environment. Several attempts to mimic biological olfactory systems have led to various artificial olfactory systems using different technical approaches. Here we provide a parallel description of biological olfactory systems and their technical counterparts. We start with a presentation of the input to the systems, the stimuli, and treat the interface between the external world and the environment where receptor neurons or artificial chemosensors reside. We then delineate the functions of receptor neurons and chemosensors as well as their overall I-O relationships. Up to this point, our account of the systems goes along similar lines. The next processing steps differ considerably: while in biology the processing step following the receptor neurons is the "integration" and "processing" of receptor neuron outputs in the olfactory bulb, this step has various realizations in electronic noses. For a long period of time, the signal processing stages beyond the olfactory bulb, i.e., the higher olfactory centers were little studied. Only recently there has been a marked growth of studies tackling the information processing in these centers. In electronic noses, a third stage of processing has virtually never been considered. In this review, we provide an up-to-date overview of the current knowledge of both fields and, for the first time, attempt to tie them together. We hope it will be a breeding ground for better information, communication, and data exchange between very related but so far little connected fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivan Manzini
- Animal Physiology and Molecular Biomedicine, Justus-Liebig-University Gießen, Gießen, Germany
| | - Detlev Schild
- Institute of Neurophysiology and Cellular Biophysics, University Medical Center, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Corrado Di Natale
- Department of Electronic Engineering, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
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12
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Katreddi RR, Forni PE. Mechanisms underlying pre- and postnatal development of the vomeronasal organ. Cell Mol Life Sci 2021; 78:5069-5082. [PMID: 33871676 PMCID: PMC8254721 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-021-03829-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2020] [Revised: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The vomeronasal organ (VNO) is sensory organ located in the ventral region of the nasal cavity in rodents. The VNO develops from the olfactory placode during the secondary invagination of olfactory pit. The embryonic vomeronasal structure appears as a neurogenic area where migratory neuronal populations like endocrine gonadotropin-releasing hormone-1 (GnRH-1) neurons form. Even though embryonic vomeronasal structures are conserved across most vertebrate species, many species including humans do not have a functional VNO after birth. The vomeronasal epithelium (VNE) of rodents is composed of two major types of vomeronasal sensory neurons (VSNs): (1) VSNs distributed in the apical VNE regions that express vomeronasal type-1 receptors (V1Rs) and the G protein subunit Gαi2, and (2) VSNs in the basal territories of the VNE that express vomeronasal type-2 receptors (V2Rs) and the G subunit Gαo. Recent studies identified a third subclass of Gαi2 and Gαo VSNs that express the formyl peptide receptor family. VSNs expressing V1Rs or V2Rs send their axons to distinct regions of the accessory olfactory bulb (AOB). Together, VNO and AOB form the accessory olfactory system (AOS), an olfactory subsystem that coordinates the social and sexual behaviors of many vertebrate species. In this review, we summarize our current understanding of cellular and molecular mechanisms that underlie VNO development. We also discuss open questions for study, which we suggest will further enhance our understanding of VNO morphogenesis at embryonic and postnatal stages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raghu Ram Katreddi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Center for Neuroscience Research, The RNA Institute, University At Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY, USA
| | - Paolo E Forni
- Department of Biological Sciences, Center for Neuroscience Research, The RNA Institute, University At Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY, USA.
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Tirindelli R. Coding of pheromones by vomeronasal receptors. Cell Tissue Res 2021; 383:367-386. [PMID: 33433690 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-020-03376-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2020] [Accepted: 12/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Communication between individuals is critical for species survival, reproduction, and expansion. Most terrestrial species, with the exception of humans who predominantly use vision and phonation to create their social network, rely on the detection and decoding of olfactory signals, which are widely known as pheromones. These chemosensory cues originate from bodily fluids, causing attractive or avoidance behaviors in subjects of the same species. Intraspecific pheromone signaling is then crucial to identify sex, social ranking, individuality, and health status, thus establishing hierarchies and finalizing the most efficient reproductive strategies. Indeed, all these features require fine tuning of the olfactory systems to detect molecules containing this information. To cope with this complexity of signals, tetrapods have developed dedicated olfactory subsystems that refer to distinct peripheral sensory detectors, called the main olfactory and the vomeronasal organ, and two minor structures, namely the septal organ of Masera and the Grueneberg ganglion. Among these, the vomeronasal organ plays the most remarkable role in pheromone coding by mediating several behavioral outcomes that are critical for species conservation and amplification. In rodents, this organ is organized into two segregated neuronal subsets that express different receptor families. To some extent, this dichotomic organization is preserved in higher projection areas of the central nervous system, suggesting, at first glance, distinct functions for these two neuronal pathways. Here, I will specifically focus on this issue and discuss the role of vomeronasal receptors in mediating important innate behavioral effects through the recognition of pheromones and other biological chemosignals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Tirindelli
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Via Volturno, 39, 43125, Parma, Italy.
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14
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Camilieri-Asch V, Caddy HT, Hubbard A, Rigby P, Doyle B, Shaw JA, Mehnert A, Partridge JC, Yopak KE, Collin SP. Multimodal Imaging and Analysis of the Neuroanatomical Organization of the Primary Olfactory Inputs in the Brownbanded Bamboo Shark, Chiloscyllium punctatum. Front Neuroanat 2020; 14:560534. [PMID: 33324175 PMCID: PMC7726474 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2020.560534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2020] [Accepted: 09/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
There is currently a limited understanding of the morphological and functional organization of the olfactory system in cartilaginous fishes, particularly when compared to bony fishes and terrestrial vertebrates. In this fish group, there is a clear paucity of information on the characterization, density, and distribution of olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs) within the sensory olfactory epithelium lining the paired olfactory rosettes, and their functional implications with respect to the hydrodynamics of incurrent water flow into the nares. This imaging study examines the brownbanded bamboo shark Chiloscyllium punctatum (Elasmobranchii) and combines immunohistochemical labeling using antisera raised against five G-protein α-subunits (Gαs/olf, Gαq/11/14, Gαi–1/2/3, Gαi–3, Gαo) with light and electron microscopy, to characterize the morphological ORN types present. Three main ORNs (“long”, “microvillous” and “crypt-like”) are confirmed and up to three additional microvilli-bearing types are also described; “Kappe-like” (potential or homologous “Kappe” as in teleosts), “pear-shaped” and “teardrop-shaped” cells. These morphotypes will need to be confirmed molecularly in the future. Using X-ray diffusible iodine-based contrast-enhanced computed tomography (diceCT), high-resolution scans of the olfactory rosettes, olfactory bulbs (OBs), peduncles, and telencephalon reveal a lateral segregation of primary olfactory inputs within the OBs, with distinct medial and lateral clusters of glomeruli, suggesting a potential somatotopic organization. However, most ORN morphotypes are found to be ubiquitously distributed within the medial and lateral regions of the olfactory rosette, with at least three microvilli-bearing ORNs labeled with anti-Gαo found in significantly higher densities in lateral lamellae [in lateral lamellae] and on the anterior portion of lamellae (facing the olfactory cavity). These microvilli-bearing ORN morphotypes (microvillous, “Kappe-like,” “pear-shaped,” and “teardrop-shaped”) are the most abundant across the olfactory rosette of this species, while ciliated ORNs are less common and crypt cells are rare. Spatial simulations of the fluid dynamics of the incurrent water flow into the nares and within the olfactory cavities indicate that the high densities of microvilli-bearing ORNs located within the lateral region of the rosette are important for sampling incoming odorants during swimming and may determine subsequent tracking behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria Camilieri-Asch
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia.,The Neuroecology Group, UWA Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Harrison T Caddy
- Vascular Engineering Laboratory, Centre for Medical Research, Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia.,School of Engineering, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Alysia Hubbard
- Centre for Microscopy, Characterisation and Analysis, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Paul Rigby
- Centre for Microscopy, Characterisation and Analysis, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Barry Doyle
- Vascular Engineering Laboratory, Centre for Medical Research, Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia.,School of Engineering, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia.,Australian Research Council Centre for Personalised Therapeutics Technologies, Perth, WA, Australia.,BHF Centre for Cardiovascular Science, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Jeremy A Shaw
- Centre for Microscopy, Characterisation and Analysis, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Andrew Mehnert
- Centre for Microscopy, Characterisation and Analysis, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia.,National Imaging Facility, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Julian C Partridge
- The Neuroecology Group, UWA Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Kara E Yopak
- Department of Biology and Marine Biology, Center for Marine Science, University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, NC, United States
| | - Shaun P Collin
- The Neuroecology Group, UWA Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia.,School of Life Sciences, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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15
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Chengetanai S, Bhagwandin A, Bertelsen MF, Hård T, Hof PR, Spocter MA, Manger PR. The brain of the African wild dog. II. The olfactory system. J Comp Neurol 2020; 528:3285-3304. [PMID: 32798255 DOI: 10.1002/cne.25007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2020] [Revised: 08/06/2020] [Accepted: 08/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Employing a range of neuroanatomical stains, we detail the organization of the main and accessory olfactory systems of the African wild dog. The organization of both these systems follows that typically observed in mammals, but variations of interest were noted. Within the main olfactory bulb, the size of the glomeruli, at approximately 350 μm in diameter, are on the larger end of the range observed across mammals. In addition, we estimate that approximately 3,500 glomeruli are present in each main olfactory bulb. This larger main olfactory bulb glomerular size and number of glomeruli indicates that enhanced peripheral processing of a broad range of odorants is occurring in the main olfactory bulb of the African wild dog. Within the accessory olfactory bulb, the glomeruli did not appear distinct, rather forming a homogenous syncytia-like arrangement as seen in the domestic dog. In addition, the laminar organization of the deeper layers of the accessory olfactory bulb was indistinct, perhaps as a consequence of the altered architecture of the glomeruli. This arrangement of glomeruli indicates that rather than parcellating the processing of semiochemicals peripherally, these odorants may be processed in a more nuanced and combinatorial manner in the periphery, allowing for more rapid and precise behavioral responses as required in the highly social group structure observed in the African wild dog. While having a similar organization to that of other mammals, the olfactory system of the African wild dog has certain features that appear to correlate to their environmental niche.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samson Chengetanai
- School of Anatomical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Adhil Bhagwandin
- School of Anatomical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Mads F Bertelsen
- Center for Zoo and Wild Animal Health, Copenhagen Zoo, Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | | | - Patrick R Hof
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA.,New York Consortium in Evolutionary Primatology, New York, New York, USA
| | - Muhammad A Spocter
- School of Anatomical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.,Department of Anatomy, Des Moines University, Des Moines, Iowa, USA
| | - Paul R Manger
- School of Anatomical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
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16
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Trova S, Bovetti S, Pellegrino G, Bonzano S, Giacobini P, Peretto P. HPG-Dependent Peri-Pubertal Regulation of Adult Neurogenesis in Mice. Front Neuroanat 2020; 14:584493. [PMID: 33328903 PMCID: PMC7732626 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2020.584493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2020] [Accepted: 10/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Adult neurogenesis, a striking form of neural plasticity, is involved in the modulation of social stimuli driving reproduction. Previous studies on adult neurogenesis have shown that this process is significantly modulated around puberty in female mice. Puberty is a critical developmental period triggered by increased secretion of the gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH), which controls the activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis (HPG). Secretion of HPG-axis factors at puberty participates to the refinement of neural circuits that govern reproduction. Here, by exploiting a transgenic GnRH deficient mouse model, that progressively loses GnRH expression during postnatal development (GnRH::Cre;Dicer loxP/loxP mice), we found that a postnatally-acquired dysfunction in the GnRH system affects adult neurogenesis selectively in the subventricular-zone neurogenic niche in a sexually dimorphic way. Moreover, by examining adult females ovariectomized before the onset of puberty, we provide important evidence that, among the HPG-axis secreting factors, the circulating levels of gonadal hormones during pre-/peri-pubertal life contribute to set-up the proper adult subventricular zone-olfactory bulb neurogenic system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Trova
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi, University of Torino, Orbassano, Italy.,Univ.Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, U1172 - LilNCog - Lille Neuroscience and Cognition, Laboratory of the Development and Plasticity of Neuroendocrine Brain, Lille, France
| | - Serena Bovetti
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi, University of Torino, Orbassano, Italy
| | - Giuliana Pellegrino
- Univ.Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, U1172 - LilNCog - Lille Neuroscience and Cognition, Laboratory of the Development and Plasticity of Neuroendocrine Brain, Lille, France
| | - Sara Bonzano
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi, University of Torino, Orbassano, Italy
| | - Paolo Giacobini
- Univ.Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, U1172 - LilNCog - Lille Neuroscience and Cognition, Laboratory of the Development and Plasticity of Neuroendocrine Brain, Lille, France
| | - Paolo Peretto
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi, University of Torino, Orbassano, Italy
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17
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Larson ED, Pathak S, Ramakrishnan VR, Finger TE. A Subset of Olfactory Sensory Neurons Express Forkhead Box J1-Driven eGFP. Chem Senses 2020; 44:663-671. [PMID: 31504289 DOI: 10.1093/chemse/bjz060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Forkhead box protein J1 (FOXJ1), a member of the forkhead family transcription factors, is a transcriptional regulator of motile ciliogenesis. The nasal respiratory epithelium, but not olfactory epithelium, is lined with FOXJ1-expressing multiciliated epithelial cells with motile cilia. In a transgenic mouse where an enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) transgene is driven by the human FOXJ1 promoter, robust eGFP expression is observed not only in the multiciliated cells of the respiratory epithelium but in a distinctive small subset of olfactory sensory neurons in the olfactory epithelium. These eGFP-positive cells lie at the extreme apical part of the neuronal layer and are most numerous in dorsal-medial regions of olfactory epithelium. Interestingly, we observed a corresponding small number of glomeruli in the olfactory bulb wherein eGFP-labeled axons terminate, suggesting that the population of eGFP+ receptor cells expresses a limited number of olfactory receptors. Similarly, a subset of vomeronasal sensory neurons expresses eGFP and is distributed throughout the full height of the vomeronasal sensory epithelium. In keeping with this broad distribution of labeled vomeronasal receptor cells, eGFP-labeled axons terminate in many glomeruli in both anterior and posterior portions of the accessory olfactory bulb. These findings suggest that Foxj1-driven eGFP marks a specific population of olfactory and vomeronasal sensory neurons, although neither receptor cell population possess motile cilia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric D Larson
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, MS, Aurora, CO, USA.,Rocky Mountain Taste and Smell Center, University of Colorado School of Medicine, MS, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Shivani Pathak
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, MS, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Vijay R Ramakrishnan
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, MS, Aurora, CO, USA.,Rocky Mountain Taste and Smell Center, University of Colorado School of Medicine, MS, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Thomas E Finger
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, MS, Aurora, CO, USA.,Rocky Mountain Taste and Smell Center, University of Colorado School of Medicine, MS, Aurora, CO, USA.,Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, MS, Aurora, CO, USA
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18
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The vomeronasal system of the newborn capybara: a morphological and immunohistochemical study. Sci Rep 2020; 10:13304. [PMID: 32764621 PMCID: PMC7411026 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-69994-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2020] [Accepted: 07/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The vomeronasal system (VNS) is responsible for the perception mainly of pheromones and kairomones. Primarily studied in laboratory rodents, it plays a crucial role in their socio-sexual behaviour. As a wild rodent, the capybara offers a more objective and representative perspective to understand the significance of the system in the Rodentia, avoiding the risk of extrapolating from laboratory rodent strains, exposed to high levels of artificial selection pressure. We have studied the main morphological and immunohistochemical features of the capybara vomeronasal organ (VNO) and accessory olfactory bulb (AOB). The study was done in newborn individuals to investigate the maturity of the system at this early stage. We used techniques such as histological stains, lectins-labelling and immunohistochemical characterization of a range of proteins, including G proteins (Gαi2, Gαo) and olfactory marking protein. As a result, we conclude that the VNS of the capybara at birth is capable of establishing the same function as that of the adult, and that it presents unique features as the high degree of differentiation of the AOB and the active cellular migration in the vomeronasal epithelium. All together makes the capybara a promising model for the study of chemical communication in the first days of life.
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19
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Ortiz-Leal I, Torres MV, Villamayor PR, López-Beceiro A, Sanchez-Quinteiro P. The vomeronasal organ of wild canids: the fox (Vulpes vulpes) as a model. J Anat 2020; 237:890-906. [PMID: 32584430 DOI: 10.1111/joa.13254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2020] [Revised: 05/20/2020] [Accepted: 05/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The vomeronasal system (VNS) has been extensively studied within specific animal families, such as Rodentia. However, the study of the VNS in other families, such as Canidae, has long been neglected. Among canids, the vomeronasal organ (VNO) has only been studied in detail in the dog, and no studies have examined the morphofunctional or immunohistochemical characteristics of the VNS in wild canids, which is surprising, given the well-known importance of chemical senses for the dog and fox and the likelihood that the VNS plays roles in the socio-reproductive physiology and behaviours of these species. In addition, characterising the fox VNS could contribute to a better understanding of the domestication process that occurred in the dog, as the fox would represent the first wild canid to be studied in depth. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze the morphological and immunohistochemical characteristics of the fox VNO. Tissue dissection and microdissection techniques were employed, followed by general and specific histological staining techniques, including with immunohistochemical and lectin-histochemical labelling strategies, using antibodies against olfactory marker protein (OMP), growth-associated protein 43 (GAP-43), calbindin (CB), calretinin (CR), α-tubulin, Gαo, and Gαi2 proteins, to highlight the specific features of the VNO in the fox. This study found significant differences in the VNS between the fox and the dog, particularly concerning the expression of Gαi2 and Gαo proteins, which were associated with the expression of the type 1 vomeronasal receptors (V1R) and type 2 vomeronasal receptors (V2R), respectively, in the vomeronasal epithelium. Both are immunopositive in foxes, as opposed to the dog, which only expresses Gαi2. This finding suggests that the fox possesses a well-developed VNO and supports the hypothesis that a profound transformation in the VNS is associated with domestication in the canid family. Furthermore, the unique features identified in the fox VNO confirm the necessity of studying the VNS system in different species to better comprehend specific phylogenetic aspects of the VNS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Ortiz-Leal
- Department of Anatomy, Animal Production and Clinical Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain
| | - Mateo V Torres
- Department of Anatomy, Animal Production and Clinical Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain
| | - Paula R Villamayor
- Department of Anatomy, Animal Production and Clinical Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain
| | - Ana López-Beceiro
- Department of Anatomy, Animal Production and Clinical Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain
| | - Pablo Sanchez-Quinteiro
- Department of Anatomy, Animal Production and Clinical Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain
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20
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Fernández-Aburto P, Delgado SE, Sobrero R, Mpodozis J. Can social behaviour drive accessory olfactory bulb asymmetries? Sister species of caviomorph rodents as a case in point. J Anat 2019; 236:612-621. [PMID: 31797375 DOI: 10.1111/joa.13126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2019] [Revised: 10/13/2019] [Accepted: 11/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
In mammals, the accessory olfactory or vomeronasal system exhibits a wide variety of anatomical arrangements. In caviomorph rodents, the accessory olfactory bulb (AOB) exhibits a dichotomic conformation, in which two subdomains, the anterior (aAOB) and the posterior (pAOB), can be readily distinguished. Interestingly, different species of this group exhibit bias of different sign between the AOB subdomains (aAOB larger than pAOB or vice versa). Such species-specific biases have been related with contrasting differences in the habitat of the different species (e.g. arid vs. humid environments). Aiming to deepen these observations, we performed a morphometric comparison of the AOB subdomains between two sister species of octodontid rodents, Octodon lunatus and Octodon degus. These species are interesting for comparative purposes, as they inhabit similar landscapes but exhibit contrasting social habits. Previous reports have shown that O. degus, a highly social species, exhibits a greatly asymmetric AOB, in which the aAOB has twice the size of the pAOB and features more and larger glomeruli in its glomerular layer (GL). We found that the same as in O. degus, the far less social O. lunatus also exhibits a bias, albeit less pronounced, to a larger aAOB. In both species, this bias was also evident for the mitral/tufted cells number. But unlike in O. degus, in O. lunatus this bias was not present at the GL. In comparison with O. degus, in O. lunatus the aAOB GL was significantly reduced in volume, while the pAOB GL displayed a similar volume. We conclude that these sister species exhibit a very sharp difference in the anatomical conformation of the AOB, namely, the relative size of the GL of the aAOB subdomain, which is larger in O. degus than in O. lunatus. We discuss these results in the context of the differences in the lifestyle of these species, highlighting the differences in social behaviour as a possible factor driving to distinct AOB morphometries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Fernández-Aburto
- Departamento de Biología, Laboratorio de Neurobiología y Biología del Conocer, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Scarlett E Delgado
- Departamento de Biología, Laboratorio de Neurobiología y Biología del Conocer, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Raúl Sobrero
- Laboratorio de Ecología de Enfermedades, Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral (ICiVet-Litoral), Universidad Nacional del Litoral (UNL), Esperanza, Santa Fe, Argentina.,Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Esperanza, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Jorge Mpodozis
- Departamento de Biología, Laboratorio de Neurobiología y Biología del Conocer, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
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21
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Structural, morphometric and immunohistochemical study of the rabbit accessory olfactory bulb. Brain Struct Funct 2019; 225:203-226. [PMID: 31802255 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-019-01997-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2019] [Accepted: 11/23/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
The accessory olfactory bulb (AOB) is the first neural integrative centre of the vomeronasal system (VNS), which is associated primarily with the detection of semiochemicals. Although the rabbit is used as a model for the study of chemocommunication, these studies are hampered by the lack of knowledge regarding the topography, lamination, and neurochemical properties of the rabbit AOB. To fill this gap, we have employed histological stainings: lectin labelling with Ulex europaeus (UEA-I), Bandeiraea simplicifolia (BSI-B4), and Lycopersicon esculentum (LEA) agglutinins, and a range of immunohistochemical markers. Anti-G proteins Gαi2/Gαo, not previously studied in the rabbit AOB, are expressed following an antero-posterior zonal pattern. This places Lagomorpha among the small groups of mammals that conserve a double-path vomeronasal reception. Antibodies against olfactory marker protein (OMP), growth-associated protein-43 (GAP-43), glutaminase (GLS), microtubule-associated protein-2 (MAP-2), glial fibrillary-acidic protein (GFAP), calbindin (CB), and calretinin (CR) characterise the strata and the principal components of the BOA, demonstrating several singular features of the rabbit AOB. This diversity is accentuated by the presence of a unique organisation: four neuronal clusters in the accessory bulbar white matter, two of them not previously characterised in any species (the γ and δ groups). Our morphometric study of the AOB has found significant differences between sexes in the numerical density of principal cells, with larger values in females, a pattern completely opposite to that found in rats. In summary, the rabbit possesses a highly developed AOB, with many specific features that highlight the significant role played by chemocommunication among this species.
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22
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Co-expression of C/EBPγ and ATF5 in mouse vomeronasal sensory neurons during early postnatal development. Cell Tissue Res 2019; 378:427-440. [DOI: 10.1007/s00441-019-03070-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2018] [Accepted: 07/03/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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23
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Chatterjee SK, Malick C, Bhattacharya S, Suresh VR, Kundu R, Saikia SK. Ectopic expression of olfactory receptors and associated G-protein subunits in the head integument of the amphihaline migratory fish hilsa Tenualosa ilisha. JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY 2019; 95:324-334. [PMID: 30238997 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.13801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2018] [Accepted: 09/14/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The chemosensory nature of the tissue from the dorsal surface of the head (also termed sensory pad; SP) of the amphihaline diadromous fish hilsa Tenualosa ilisha was investigated for odorant receptor (OR), olfactory marker protein (OMP) and G-protein subunits (Gαs-olf, Gαq, Gαo, Gαi3) through immunolocalization and immunoblotting techniques. The immunolocalization of OR, OMP and G-protein subunits showed clear expression of these proteins in the tissues of the SP. Robust expressions of these proteins in the SP were detected with immunoblot analysis. The strong expression of these proteins in the SP indicates that the tissues from this area in riverine T. ilisha may play significant role in chemosensing and signalling through ectopic expression of olfactory receptor proteins which are otherwise reported in olfactory organs in vertebrates. Being migratory in nature, ectopic expression of these receptors in T. ilisha probably helps them to prevent damage to epidermal tissues of the SP, or they may also utilize them as a chemo and mechanosensory tool to optimize chemo-communications during migration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Subhendu K Chatterjee
- Aquatic Ecology and Fish Biology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan, India
- Molecular Endocrinology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan, India
| | - Chandan Malick
- Aquatic Ecology and Fish Biology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan, India
- Cell Signaling Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan, India
| | - Samir Bhattacharya
- Molecular Endocrinology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan, India
| | - Vettath R Suresh
- Riverine Ecology and Fisheries Division, Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Kolkata, India
| | - Rakesh Kundu
- Cell Signaling Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan, India
| | - Surjya K Saikia
- Aquatic Ecology and Fish Biology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan, India
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24
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Central role of G protein Gαi2 and Gαi2 + vomeronasal neurons in balancing territorial and infant-directed aggression of male mice. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019; 116:5135-5143. [PMID: 30804203 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1821492116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Aggression is controlled by the olfactory system in many animal species. In male mice, territorial and infant-directed aggression are tightly regulated by the vomeronasal organ (VNO), but how diverse subsets of sensory neurons convey pheromonal information to limbic centers is not yet known. Here, we employ genetic strategies to show that mouse vomeronasal sensory neurons expressing the G protein subunit Gαi2 regulate male-male and infant-directed aggression through distinct circuit mechanisms. Conditional ablation of Gαi2 enhances male-male aggression and increases neural activity in the medial amygdala (MeA), bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, and lateral septum. By contrast, conditional Gαi2 ablation causes reduced infant-directed aggression and decreased activity in MeA neurons during male-infant interactions. Strikingly, these mice also display enhanced parental behavior and elevated neural activity in the medial preoptic area, whereas sexual behavior remains normal. These results identify Gαi2 as the primary G protein α-subunit mediating the detection of volatile chemosignals in the apical layer of the VNO, and they show that Gαi2+ VSNs and the brain circuits activated by these neurons play a central role in orchestrating and balancing territorial and infant-directed aggression of male mice through bidirectional activation and inhibition of different targets in the limbic system.
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Salazar I, Sanchez-Quinteiro P, Barrios AW, López Amado M, Vega JA. Anatomy of the olfactory mucosa. HANDBOOK OF CLINICAL NEUROLOGY 2019; 164:47-65. [PMID: 31604563 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-444-63855-7.00004-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
The classic notion that humans are microsmatic animals was born from comparative anatomy studies showing the reduction in the size of both the olfactory bulbs and the limbic brain relative to the whole brain. However, the human olfactory system contains a number of neurons comparable to that of most other mammals, and humans have exquisite olfactory abilities. Major advances in molecular and genetic research have resulted in the identification of extremely large gene families that express receptors for sensing odors. Such advances have led to a renaissance of studies focused on both human and nonhuman aspects of olfactory physiology and function. Evidence that olfactory dysfunction is among the earliest signs of a number of neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders has led to considerable interest in the use of olfactory epithelial biopsies for potentially identifying such disorders. Moreover, the unique features of the olfactory ensheathing cells have made the olfactory mucosa a promising and unexpected source of cells for treating spinal cord injuries and other neural injuries in which cell guidance is critical. The olfactory system of humans and other primates differs in many ways from that of other species. In this chapter we provide an overview of the anatomy of not only the human olfactory mucosa but of mucosae from a range of mammals from which more detailed information is available. Basic information regarding the general organization of the olfactory mucosa, including its receptor cells and the large number of other cell types critical for their maintenance and function, is provided. Cross-species comparisons are made when appropriate. The polemic issue of the human vomeronasal organ in both the adult and fetus is discussed, along with recent findings regarding olfactory subsystems within the nose of a number of mammals (e.g., the septal organ and Grüneberg ganglion).
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Affiliation(s)
- Ignacio Salazar
- Department of Anatomy, Animal Production and Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Unit of Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain.
| | - Pablo Sanchez-Quinteiro
- Department of Anatomy, Animal Production and Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Unit of Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain
| | - Arthur W Barrios
- Laboratory of Histology, Embryology and Animal Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University Nacional Mayor of San Marcos, Lima, Peru
| | - Manuel López Amado
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Hospital La Coruña, La Coruña, Spain
| | - José A Vega
- Unit of Anatomy, Department of Morphology and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain
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Witt M, Thiemer R, Meyer A, Schmitt O, Wree A. Main Olfactory and Vomeronasal Epithelium Are Differently Affected in Niemann-Pick Disease Type C1. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19113563. [PMID: 30424529 PMCID: PMC6274921 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19113563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2018] [Revised: 11/01/2018] [Accepted: 11/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Olfactory impairment is one of the earliest symptoms in neurodegenerative disorders that has also been documented in Niemann-Pick disease type C1 (NPC1). NPC1 is a very rare, neurovisceral lipid storage disorder, characterized by a deficiency of Npc1 gene function that leads to progressive neurodegeneration. Here, we compared the pathologic effect of defective Npc1 gene on the vomeronasal neuroepithelium (VNE) with that of the olfactory epithelium (OE) in an NPC1 mouse model. METHODS Proliferation in the VNE and OE was assessed by applying a bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) protocol. We further compared the immunoreactivities of anti-olfactory marker protein (OMP), and the lysosomal marker cathepsin-D in both epithelia. To investigate if degenerative effects of both olfactory systems can be prevented or reversed, some animals were treated with a combination of miglustat/allopregnanolone/2-hydroxypropyl-cyclodextrin (HPβCD), or a monotherapy with HPβCD alone. RESULTS Using BrdU to label dividing cells of the VNE, we detected a proliferation increase of 215% ± 12% in Npc1-/- mice, and 270% ± 10% in combination- treated Npc1-/- animals. The monotherapy with HPβCD led to an increase of 261% ± 10.5% compared to sham-treated Npc1-/- mice. Similar to the OE, we assessed the high regenerative potential of vomeronasal progenitor cells. OMP reactivity in the VNE of Npc1-/- mice was not affected, in contrast to that observed in the OE. Concomitantly, cathepsin-D reactivity in the VNE was virtually absent. Conclusion: Vomeronasal receptor neurons are less susceptible against NPC1 pathology than olfactory receptor neurons. Compared to control mice, however, the VNE of Npc1-/- mice displays an increased neuroregenerative potential, indicating compensatory cell renewal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Witt
- Department of Anatomy, University of Rostock, 18057 Rostock, Germany.
| | - René Thiemer
- Department of Anatomy, University of Rostock, 18057 Rostock, Germany.
| | - Anja Meyer
- Department of Anatomy, University of Rostock, 18057 Rostock, Germany.
| | - Oliver Schmitt
- Department of Anatomy, University of Rostock, 18057 Rostock, Germany.
| | - Andreas Wree
- Department of Anatomy, University of Rostock, 18057 Rostock, Germany.
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Imam A, Bhagwandin A, Ajao MS, Spocter MA, Ihunwo AO, Manger PR. The brain of the tree pangolin (Manis tricuspis
). II. The olfactory system. J Comp Neurol 2018; 526:2548-2569. [DOI: 10.1002/cne.24510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2018] [Revised: 07/27/2018] [Accepted: 07/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Aminu Imam
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand; School of Anatomical Sciences; Republic of South Africa
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences; College of Health Sciences, University of Ilorin; Ilorin Nigeria
| | - Adhil Bhagwandin
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand; School of Anatomical Sciences; Republic of South Africa
| | - Moyosore S. Ajao
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences; College of Health Sciences, University of Ilorin; Ilorin Nigeria
| | - Muhammed A. Spocter
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand; School of Anatomical Sciences; Republic of South Africa
- Department of Anatomy; Des Moines University; Iowa
| | - Amadi O. Ihunwo
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand; School of Anatomical Sciences; Republic of South Africa
| | - Paul R. Manger
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand; School of Anatomical Sciences; Republic of South Africa
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Villamayor PR, Cifuentes JM, Fdz-de-Troconiz P, Sanchez-Quinteiro P. Morphological and immunohistochemical study of the rabbit vomeronasal organ. J Anat 2018; 233:814-827. [PMID: 30255591 DOI: 10.1111/joa.12884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/17/2018] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The characterization of the rabbit mammary pheromone, which is sensed by the main olfactory system, has made this species a unique model for the study of pheromonal communication in mammals. This discovery has brought attention to the global understanding of chemosensory communication in this species. Chemocommunication is mediated by two distinct organs located in the nasal cavity, the main olfactory epithelium and the vomeronasal organ (VNO). However, there is a lack of knowledge about the vomeronasal system in rabbits. To understand the role of this system, an exhaustive anatomical and histological study of the rabbit VNO was performed. The rabbit VNO was studied macroscopically by light microscopy, and by histochemical and immunohistochemical techniques. We employed specific histological staining techniques (periodic acid-Schiff, Alcian blue, Gallego's trichrome), confocal autofluorescence, histochemical labelling with the lectin Ulex europaeus agglutinin (UEA-I), and immunohistochemical studies of the expression of the Gαi2 and Gαo proteins and olfactory marker protein. The opening of the vomeronasal duct into the nasal cavity and its indirect communication with the oral cavity through a functional nasopalatine duct was demonstrated by classical dissection and microdissection. In a series of transverse histological sections, special attention was paid to the general distribution of the various soft-tissue components of this organ (duct, glands, connective tissue, blood vessels and nerves) and to the nature of the capsule of the organ. Among the main morphological features that distinguish the rabbit VNO, the presence of a double envelope, which is bony externally and cartilaginous internally, and highly developed venous sinuses stand out. This observation indicates the crucial role played in this species by the pumping mechanism that introduces chemical signals into the vomeronasal duct. The functional properties of the organ are also confirmed by the presence of a well-developed neuroepithelium and profuse glandular tissue that is positive for neutral mucopolysaccharides. The role of glycoconjugates was assessed by the identification of the α1-2 fucose glycan system in the neuroepithelium of the VNO employing UEA-I lectin. The pattern of labelling, which was concentrated around the commissures of the sensory epithelium and more diffuse in the central segments, is different from that found in most mammals studied. According to the expression of G-proteins, two pathways have been described in the VNOs of mammals: neuroreceptor cells expressing the Gαi2 protein (associated with vomeronasal receptor type 1); and cells expressing Gαo (associated with vomeronasal receptor type 2). The latter pathway is absent in most mammals studied. The expression of both G-protein families in the rabbit VNO places Lagomorpha together with rodents and insectivores in a small group of mammals belonging to the two-path model. These findings support the notion that the rabbit possesses a highly developed VNO, with many specific morphological features, which highlights the significance of chemocommunication in this species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula R Villamayor
- Faculty of Veterinary, Department of Anatomy, Animal Production and Clinical Veterinary Sciences, University of Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain
| | - Jose Manuel Cifuentes
- Faculty of Veterinary, Department of Anatomy, Animal Production and Clinical Veterinary Sciences, University of Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain
| | - Patricia Fdz-de-Troconiz
- Faculty of Veterinary, Department of Anatomy, Animal Production and Clinical Veterinary Sciences, University of Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain
| | - Pablo Sanchez-Quinteiro
- Faculty of Veterinary, Department of Anatomy, Animal Production and Clinical Veterinary Sciences, University of Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain
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Holy TE. The Accessory Olfactory System: Innately Specialized or Microcosm of Mammalian Circuitry? Annu Rev Neurosci 2018; 41:501-525. [DOI: 10.1146/annurev-neuro-080317-061916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
In mammals, the accessory olfactory system is a distinct circuit that has received attention for its role in detecting and responding to pheromones. While the neuroscientific investigation of this system is comparatively new, recent advances and its compact size have made it an attractive model for developing an end-to-end understanding of such questions as regulation of essential behaviors, plasticity, and individual recognition. Recent discoveries have indicated a need to reevaluate our conception of this system, suggesting that ( a) physical principles—rather than biological necessity—play an underappreciated role in its raison d'être and that ( b) the anatomy of downstream projections is not dominated by unique specializations but instead consists of an abbreviated cortical/basal ganglia motif reminiscent of other sensorimotor systems. These observations suggest that the accessory olfactory system distinguishes itself primarily by the physicochemical properties of its ligands, but its architecture is otherwise a microcosm of mammalian neurocircuitry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy E. Holy
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri 63132, USA
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Tomiyasu J, Kondoh D, Sakamoto H, Matsumoto N, Sasaki M, Kitamura N, Haneda S, Matsui M. Morphological and histological features of the vomeronasal organ in the brown bear. J Anat 2017; 231:749-757. [PMID: 28786107 PMCID: PMC5643918 DOI: 10.1111/joa.12673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/14/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The vomeronasal organ (VNO) is a peripheral receptor structure that is involved in reproductive behavior and is part of the vomeronasal system. Male bears exhibit flehmen behavior that is regarded as the uptake of pheromones into the VNO to detect estrus in females. However, the morphological and histological features of the VNO in bears have not been comprehensively studied. The present study investigated the properties and degree of development of the VNO of the brown bear by histological, histochemical and ultrastructural methods. The VNO of bears was located at the same position as that of many other mammals, and it opened to the mouth like the VNO of most carnivores. The shape of the vomeronasal cartilages and the histological features of the sensory epithelium in the bear VNO were essentially similar to those of dogs. Receptor cells in the VNO of the bear possessed both cilia and microvilli like those of dogs. The dendritic knobs of receptor cells were positive for anti-G protein alpha-i2 subunit (Gαi2 ) but negative for anti-G protein alpha-o subunit, indicating preferential use of the V1R-Gαi2 pathway in the vomeronasal system of bears, as in other carnivores. The VNO of the bear possessed three types of secretory cells (secretory cells of the vomeronasal gland, multicellular intraepithelial gland cells and goblet cells), and the present findings showed that the secretory granules in these cells also had various properties. The vomeronasal lumen at the middle region of the VNO invaginated toward the ventral region, and this invagination contained tightly packed multicellular intraepithelial gland cells. To our knowledge, this invagination and intraepithelial gland masses in the VNO are unique features of brown bears. The VNO in the brown bear, especially the secretory system, is morphologically well-developed, suggesting that this organ is significant for information transmission in this species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jumpei Tomiyasu
- Laboratory of TheriogenologyDepartment of Applied Veterinary MedicineObihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary MedicineObihiroHokkaidoJapan
- The United Graduate School of Veterinary SciencesGifu UniversityGifuJapan
| | - Daisuke Kondoh
- Laboratory of Veterinary AnatomyDepartment of Basic Veterinary MedicineObihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary MedicineObihiroHokkaidoJapan
| | | | | | - Motoki Sasaki
- The United Graduate School of Veterinary SciencesGifu UniversityGifuJapan
- Laboratory of Veterinary AnatomyDepartment of Basic Veterinary MedicineObihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary MedicineObihiroHokkaidoJapan
| | - Nobuo Kitamura
- The United Graduate School of Veterinary SciencesGifu UniversityGifuJapan
- Laboratory of Veterinary AnatomyDepartment of Basic Veterinary MedicineObihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary MedicineObihiroHokkaidoJapan
| | - Shingo Haneda
- Laboratory of TheriogenologyDepartment of Applied Veterinary MedicineObihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary MedicineObihiroHokkaidoJapan
| | - Motozumi Matsui
- Laboratory of TheriogenologyDepartment of Applied Veterinary MedicineObihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary MedicineObihiroHokkaidoJapan
- The United Graduate School of Veterinary SciencesGifu UniversityGifuJapan
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Loss of Kirrel family members alters glomerular structure and synapse numbers in the accessory olfactory bulb. Brain Struct Funct 2017; 223:307-319. [DOI: 10.1007/s00429-017-1485-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2016] [Accepted: 07/24/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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Marking S, Krosnowski K, Ogura T, Lin W. Dichotomous Distribution of Putative Cholinergic Interneurons in Mouse Accessory Olfactory Bulb. Front Neuroanat 2017; 11:10. [PMID: 28289379 PMCID: PMC5326757 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2017.00010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2016] [Accepted: 02/10/2017] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Sensory information processing in the olfactory bulb (OB) relies on diverse populations of bulbar interneurons. In rodents, the accessory OB (AOB) is divided into two bulbar regions, the anterior (aAOB) and posterior (pAOB), which differ substantially in their circuitry connections and associated behaviors. We previously identified and characterized a large number of morphologically diverse cholinergic interneurons in the main OB (MOB) using transgenic mice to visualize the cell bodies of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT-expressing neurons and immunolabeling (Krosnowski et al., 2012)). However, whether there are cholinergic neurons in the AOB is controversial and there is no detailed characterization of such neurons. Using the same line of ChAT(bacterial artificial chromosome, BAC)-enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) transgenic mice, we investigated cholinergic neurons in the AOB. We found significant differences in the number and location of GFP-expressing (GFP+), putative cholinergic interneurons between the aAOB and pAOB. The highest numbers of GFP+ interneurons were found in the aAOB glomerular layer (aGL) and pAOB mitral/tufted cell layer (pMCL). We also noted a high density of GFP+ interneurons encircling the border region of the pMCL. Interestingly, a small subset of glomeruli in the middle of the GL receives strong MCL GFP+ nerve processes. These local putative cholinergic-innervated glomeruli are situated just outside the aGL, setting the boundary between the pGL and aGL. Many but not all GFP+ neurons in the AOB were weakly labeled with antibodies against ChAT and vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT). We further determined if these GFP+ interneurons differ from other previously characterized interneuron populations in the AOB and found that AOB GFP+ interneurons express neither GABAergic nor dopaminergic markers and most also do not express the glutamatergic marker. Similar to the cholinergic interneurons of the MOB, some AOB GFP+ interneurons express the calcium binding protein, calbindin-D28K. Moreover, exposure to either a male intruder or soiled bedding from a mating cage leads to an increase in the number of c-Fos-expressing MCL GFP+ neurons. Taken together, our data reveal a population of largely unidentified putative cholinergic neurons in the AOB. Their dichotomous distribution in the aAOB and pAOB suggests region-specific cholinergic involvement in olfactory information processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Marking
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Maryland, Baltimore County Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Kurt Krosnowski
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Maryland, Baltimore County Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Tatsuya Ogura
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Maryland, Baltimore County Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Weihong Lin
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Maryland, Baltimore County Baltimore, MD, USA
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Degl'Innocenti A, D'Errico A. Regulatory Features for Odorant Receptor Genes in the Mouse Genome. Front Genet 2017; 8:19. [PMID: 28270833 PMCID: PMC5318403 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2017.00019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2016] [Accepted: 02/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The odorant receptor genes, seven transmembrane receptor genes constituting the vastest mammalian gene multifamily, are expressed monogenically and monoallelicaly in each sensory neuron in the olfactory epithelium. This characteristic, often referred to as the one neuron-one receptor rule, is driven by mostly uncharacterized molecular dynamics, generally named odorant receptor gene choice. Much attention has been paid by the scientific community to the identification of sequences regulating the expression of odorant receptor genes within their loci, where related genes are usually arranged in genomic clusters. A number of studies identified transcription factor binding sites on odorant receptor promoter sequences. Similar binding sites were also found on a number of enhancers that regulate in cis their transcription, but have been proposed to form interchromosomal networks. Odorant receptor gene choice seems to occur via the local removal of strongly repressive epigenetic markings, put in place during the maturation of the sensory neuron on each odorant receptor locus. Here we review the fast-changing state of art for the study of regulatory features for odorant receptor genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Degl'Innocenti
- Max Planck Institute of BiophysicsFrankfurt am Main, Germany; Cell and Developmental Biology Unit, Department of Biology, University of PisaPisa, Italy; Center for Micro-BioRobotics, Italian Institute of Technology, Sant'Anna School of Advanced StudiesPisa, Italy
| | - Anna D'Errico
- Max Planck Institute of Biophysics Frankfurt am Main, Germany
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Ferrando S, Gallus L, Amaroli A, Gambardella C, Waryani B, Di Blasi D, Vacchi M. Gross anatomy and histology of the olfactory rosette of the shark Heptranchias perlo. ZOOLOGY 2017; 122:27-37. [PMID: 28268047 DOI: 10.1016/j.zool.2017.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2016] [Revised: 12/08/2016] [Accepted: 02/14/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Sharks belonging to the family Hexanchidae have six or seven gill slits, unlike all other elasmobranchs, which have five gill slits. Their olfactory organs have a round shape, which is common for holocephalans, but not for elasmobranchs. Thus, the shape of the olfactory organ represents a further, less striking, peculiarity of this family among elasmobranchs. Despite that, the microscopic anatomy and histology of the olfactory organ have not yet been studied in any species of this family. Here, an anatomical and histological description of the olfactory organ of the sharpnose sevengill shark Heptranchias perlo is given. The organ is a rosette, with a central raphe and 31-34 primary lamellae, which bear secondary lamellae with a more or less branched shape. The elastic connective capsule which envelops the olfactory rosette possibly changes its shape along with water influx. In the olfactory epithelium, the supporting cells also have a secretory function, while no specialized mucous cells are visible; regarding this feature the olfactory epithelium of H. perlo differs from that of other chondrichthyan species. The immunohistochemical investigation of the sensory epithelium shows the absence of immunoreactivity for Gαolf in receptor neurons, which confirms previous observations in Chondrichthyes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Ferrando
- DISTAV - University of Genoa, Viale Benedetto XV 5, 16132 Genoa, Italy.
| | - Lorenzo Gallus
- DISTAV - University of Genoa, Viale Benedetto XV 5, 16132 Genoa, Italy
| | - Andrea Amaroli
- DISC - University of Genoa, Largo Rosanna Benzi 8, 16132 Genoa, Italy
| | | | - Baradi Waryani
- Department of Fresh Water Biology and Fisheries, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Sindh, Jamshoro, Pakistan
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Ackels T, Drose DR, Spehr M. In-depth Physiological Analysis of Defined Cell Populations in Acute Tissue Slices of the Mouse Vomeronasal Organ. J Vis Exp 2016. [PMID: 27684435 DOI: 10.3791/54517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
In most mammals, the vomeronasal organ (VNO) is a chemosensory structure that detects both hetero- and conspecific social cues. Vomeronasal sensory neurons (VSNs) express a specific type of G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) from at least three different chemoreceptor gene families allowing sensitive and specific detection of chemosensory cues. These families comprise the V1r and V2r gene families as well as the formyl peptide receptor (FPR)-related sequence (Fpr-rs) family of putative chemoreceptor genes. In order to understand the physiology of vomeronasal receptor-ligand interactions and downstream signaling, it is essential to identify the biophysical properties inherent to each specific class of VSNs. The physiological approach described here allows identification and in-depth analysis of a defined population of sensory neurons using a transgenic mouse line (Fpr-rs3-i-Venus). The use of this protocol, however, is not restricted to this specific line and thus can easily be extended to other genetically modified lines or wild type animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tobias Ackels
- Department of Chemosensation, Institute for Biology II, RWTH Aachen University; Mill Hill Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute;
| | - Daniela R Drose
- Department of Chemosensation, Institute for Biology II, RWTH Aachen University
| | - Marc Spehr
- Department of Chemosensation, Institute for Biology II, RWTH Aachen University
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36
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Expression patterns of homeobox genes in the mouse vomeronasal organ at postnatal stages. Gene Expr Patterns 2016; 21:69-80. [PMID: 27521061 DOI: 10.1016/j.gep.2016.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2016] [Revised: 08/05/2016] [Accepted: 08/05/2016] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Homeodomain proteins are encoded by homeobox genes and regulate development and differentiation in many neuronal systems. The mouse vomeronasal organ (VNO) generates in situ mature chemosensory neurons from stem cells. The roles of homeodomain proteins in neuronal differentiation in the VNO are poorly understood. Here we have characterized the expression patterns of 28 homeobox genes in the VNO of C57BL/6 mice at postnatal stages using multicolor fluorescent in situ hybridization. We identified 11 homeobox genes (Dlx3, Dlx4, Emx2, Lhx2, Meis1, Pbx3, Pknox2, Pou6f1, Tshz2, Zhx1, Zhx3) that were expressed exclusively in neurons; 4 homeobox genes (Pax6, Six1, Tgif1, Zfhx3) that were expressed in all non-neuronal cell populations, with Pax6, Six1 and Tgif1 also expressed in some neuronal progenitors and precursors; 12 homeobox genes (Adnp, Cux1, Dlx5, Dlx6, Meis2, Pbx2, Pknox1, Pou2f1, Satb1, Tshz1, Tshz3, Zhx2) with expression in both neuronal and non-neuronal cell populations; and one homeobox gene (Hopx) that was exclusively expressed in the non-sensory epithelium. We studied further in detail the expression of Emx2, Lhx2, Meis1, and Meis2. We found that expression of Emx2 and Lhx2 initiated between neuronal progenitor and neuronal precursor stages. As far as the sensory neurons of the VNO are concerned, Meis1 and Meis2 were only expressed in the apical layer, together with Gnai2, but not in the basal layer.
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Functional Overexpression of Vomeronasal Receptors Using a Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 (HSV-1)-Derived Amplicon. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0156092. [PMID: 27195771 PMCID: PMC4873243 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0156092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2016] [Accepted: 05/09/2016] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
In mice, social behaviors such as mating and aggression are mediated by pheromones and related chemosignals. The vomeronasal organ (VNO) detects olfactory information from other individuals by sensory neurons tuned to respond to specific chemical cues. Receptors expressed by vomeronasal neurons are implicated in selective detection of these cues. Nearly 400 receptor genes have been identified in the mouse VNO, but the tuning properties of individual receptors remain poorly understood, in part due to the lack of a robust heterologous expression system. Here we develop a herpes virus-based amplicon delivery system to overexpress three types of vomeronasal receptor genes and to characterize cell responses to their proposed ligands. Through Ca2+ imaging in native VNO cells we show that virus-induced overexpression of V1rj2, V2r1b or Fpr3 caused a pronounced increase of responsivity to sulfated steroids, MHC-binding peptide or the synthetic hexapeptide W-peptide, respectively. Other related ligands were not recognized by infected individual neurons, indicating a high degree of selectivity by the overexpressed receptor. Removal of G-protein signaling eliminates Ca2+ responses, indicating that the endogenous second messenger system is essential for observing receptor activation. Our results provide a novel expression system for vomeronasal receptors that should be useful for understanding the molecular logic of VNO ligand detection. Functional expression of vomeronasal receptors and their deorphanization provides an essential requirement for deciphering the neural mechanisms controlling behavior.
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Ferrando S, Gallus L, Ghigliotti L, Vacchi M, Nielsen J, Christiansen JS, Pisano E. Gross morphology and histology of the olfactory organ of the Greenland shark Somniosus microcephalus. Polar Biol 2015. [DOI: 10.1007/s00300-015-1862-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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Nakamuta S, Yokosuka M, Taniguchi K, Yamamoto Y, Nakamuta N. Immunohistochemical analysis for G protein in the olfactory organs of soft-shelled turtle, Pelodiscus sinensis. J Vet Med Sci 2015; 78:245-50. [PMID: 26440778 PMCID: PMC4785113 DOI: 10.1292/jvms.15-0359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
In turtles, the epithelia lining the upper and lower chambers of the nasal cavity project axons to the ventral and dorsal parts of the olfactory bulbs, respectively. In a semi-aquatic soft-shelled turtle, Pelodiscus sinensis, more than 1,000 odorant receptor genes have been found, but it is not known where they are expressed. In this study, we aimed to clarify the distribution of cells expressing these genes in the olfactory organs of soft-shelled turtles. Immunoreactions for the Gαolf, the α subunit of G protein coupled to the odorant receptors, were detected on the surface of epithelia lining both the upper and lower chambers of the nasal cavity. The receptor cells in the epithelium of both chambers possessed cilia on the tip of their dendrites, whereas microvillous, non-ciliated, receptor cells were not found. These data suggest that the odorant receptor genes are expressed by the ciliated receptor cells in the upper and lower chamber epithelia. Precise location of the vomeronasal epithelium is not known at present.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shoko Nakamuta
- Laboratory of Veterinary Anatomy, Iwate University, 3-18-8 Ueda, Morioka, Iwate 020-8550, Japan
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Nakano H, Iida Y, Suzuki M, Aoki M, Umemura M, Takahashi S, Takahashi Y. Activating transcription factor 5 (ATF5) is essential for the maturation and survival of mouse basal vomeronasal sensory neurons. Cell Tissue Res 2015; 363:621-33. [DOI: 10.1007/s00441-015-2283-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2015] [Accepted: 08/25/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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Amjad A, Hernandez-Clavijo A, Pifferi S, Maurya DK, Boccaccio A, Franzot J, Rock J, Menini A. Conditional knockout of TMEM16A/anoctamin1 abolishes the calcium-activated chloride current in mouse vomeronasal sensory neurons. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2015; 145:285-301. [PMID: 25779870 PMCID: PMC4380210 DOI: 10.1085/jgp.201411348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
TMEM16A is an essential component of Ca2+-activated Cl− currents in mouse vomeronasal sensory neurons. Pheromones are substances released from animals that, when detected by the vomeronasal organ of other individuals of the same species, affect their physiology and behavior. Pheromone binding to receptors on microvilli on the dendritic knobs of vomeronasal sensory neurons activates a second messenger cascade to produce an increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration. Here, we used whole-cell and inside-out patch-clamp analysis to provide a functional characterization of currents activated by Ca2+ in isolated mouse vomeronasal sensory neurons in the absence of intracellular K+. In whole-cell recordings, the average current in 1.5 µM Ca2+ and symmetrical Cl− was −382 pA at −100 mV. Ion substitution experiments and partial blockade by commonly used Cl− channel blockers indicated that Ca2+ activates mainly anionic currents in these neurons. Recordings from inside-out patches from dendritic knobs of mouse vomeronasal sensory neurons confirmed the presence of Ca2+-activated Cl− channels in the knobs and/or microvilli. We compared the electrophysiological properties of the native currents with those mediated by heterologously expressed TMEM16A/anoctamin1 or TMEM16B/anoctamin2 Ca2+-activated Cl− channels, which are coexpressed in microvilli of mouse vomeronasal sensory neurons, and found a closer resemblance to those of TMEM16A. We used the Cre–loxP system to selectively knock out TMEM16A in cells expressing the olfactory marker protein, which is found in mature vomeronasal sensory neurons. Immunohistochemistry confirmed the specific ablation of TMEM16A in vomeronasal neurons. Ca2+-activated currents were abolished in vomeronasal sensory neurons of TMEM16A conditional knockout mice, demonstrating that TMEM16A is an essential component of Ca2+-activated Cl− currents in mouse vomeronasal sensory neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asma Amjad
- Neurobiology Group, SISSA, Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati, 34136 Trieste, Italy
| | - Andres Hernandez-Clavijo
- Neurobiology Group, SISSA, Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati, 34136 Trieste, Italy
| | - Simone Pifferi
- Neurobiology Group, SISSA, Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati, 34136 Trieste, Italy
| | - Devendra Kumar Maurya
- Neurobiology Group, SISSA, Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati, 34136 Trieste, Italy
| | - Anna Boccaccio
- Istituto di Biofisica, National Research Council, 16149 Genova, Italy
| | - Jessica Franzot
- Neurobiology Group, SISSA, Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati, 34136 Trieste, Italy
| | - Jason Rock
- Department of Anatomy, University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA 94143
| | - Anna Menini
- Neurobiology Group, SISSA, Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati, 34136 Trieste, Italy
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Pérez-Gómez A, Stein B, Leinders-Zufall T, Chamero P. Signaling mechanisms and behavioral function of the mouse basal vomeronasal neuroepithelium. Front Neuroanat 2014; 8:135. [PMID: 25505388 PMCID: PMC4244706 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2014.00135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2014] [Accepted: 11/03/2014] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The vomeronasal organ (VNO) is a sensory organ that is found in most terrestrial vertebrates and that is principally implicated in the detection of pheromones. The VNO contains specialized sensory neurons organized in a pseudostratified neuroepithelium that recognize chemical signals involved in initiating innate behavioral responses. In rodents, the VNO neuroepithelium is segregated into two distinct zones, apical and basal. The molecular mechanisms involved in ligand detection by apical and basal VNO sensory neurons differ extensively. These two VNO subsystems express different subfamilies of vomeronasal receptors and signaling molecules, detect distinct chemosignals, and project to separate regions of the accessory olfactory bulb (AOB). The roles that these olfactory subdivisions play in the control of specific olfactory-mediated behaviors are largely unclear. However, analysis of mutant mouse lines for signal transduction components together with identification of defined chemosensory ligands has revealed a fundamental role of the basal part of the mouse VNO in mediating a wide range of instinctive behaviors, such as aggression, predator avoidance, and sexual attraction. Here we will compare the divergent functions and synergies between the olfactory subsystems and consider new insights in how higher neural circuits are defined for the initiation of instinctive behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anabel Pérez-Gómez
- Department of Physiology, University of Saarland School of Medicine Homburg, Saarland, Germany
| | - Benjamin Stein
- Department of Physiology, University of Saarland School of Medicine Homburg, Saarland, Germany
| | - Trese Leinders-Zufall
- Department of Physiology, University of Saarland School of Medicine Homburg, Saarland, Germany
| | - Pablo Chamero
- Department of Physiology, University of Saarland School of Medicine Homburg, Saarland, Germany
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Lyons DJ, Broberger C. TIDAL WAVES: Network mechanisms in the neuroendocrine control of prolactin release. Front Neuroendocrinol 2014; 35:420-38. [PMID: 24561279 DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2014.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2013] [Revised: 12/22/2013] [Accepted: 02/10/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Neuroendocrine tuberoinfundibular dopamine (TIDA) neurons tonically inhibit pituitary release of the hormone, prolactin. Through the powerful actions of prolactin in promoting lactation and maternal behaviour while suppressing sexual drive and fertility, TIDA neurons play a key role in reproduction. We summarize insights from recent in vitro studies into the membrane properties and network behaviour of TIDA neurons including the observations that TIDA neurons exhibit a robust oscillation that is synchronized between cells and depends on intact gap junction communication. Comparisons are made with phasic firing patterns in other neuronal populations. Modulators involved in the control of lactation - including serotonin, thyrotropin-releasing hormone and prolactin itself - have been shown to change the electrical behaviour of TIDA cells. We propose that TIDA discharge mode may play a central role in tuning the amount of dopamine delivered to the pituitary and hence circulating prolactin concentrations in different reproductive states and pathological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- David J Lyons
- Dept. of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Retzius v. 8, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Christian Broberger
- Dept. of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Retzius v. 8, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden.
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Barrios AW, Núñez G, Sánchez Quinteiro P, Salazar I. Anatomy, histochemistry, and immunohistochemistry of the olfactory subsystems in mice. Front Neuroanat 2014; 8:63. [PMID: 25071468 PMCID: PMC4094888 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2014.00063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2014] [Accepted: 06/23/2014] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The four regions of the murine nasal cavity featuring olfactory neurons were studied anatomically and by labeling with lectins and relevant antibodies with a view to establishing criteria for the identification of olfactory subsystems that are readily applicable to other mammals. In the main olfactory epithelium and the septal organ the olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) are embedded in quasi-stratified columnar epithelium; vomeronasal OSNs are embedded in epithelium lining the medial interior wall of the vomeronasal duct and do not make contact with the mucosa of the main nasal cavity; and in Grüneberg's ganglion a small isolated population of OSNs lies adjacent to, but not within, the epithelium. With the exception of Grüneberg's ganglion, all the tissues expressing olfactory marker protein (OMP) (the above four nasal territories, the vomeronasal and main olfactory nerves, and the main and accessory olfactory bulbs) are also labeled by Lycopersicum esculentum agglutinin, while Ulex europaeus agglutinin I labels all and only tissues expressing Gαi2 (the apical sensory neurons of the vomeronasal organ, their axons, and their glomerular destinations in the anterior accessory olfactory bulb). These staining patterns of UEA-I and LEA may facilitate the characterization of olfactory anatomy in other species. A 710-section atlas of the anatomy of the murine nasal cavity has been made available on line.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arthur W Barrios
- Unit of Anatomy and Embryology, Department of Anatomy and Animal Production, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Santiago de Compostela Lugo, Spain
| | | | - Pablo Sánchez Quinteiro
- Unit of Anatomy and Embryology, Department of Anatomy and Animal Production, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Santiago de Compostela Lugo, Spain
| | - Ignacio Salazar
- Unit of Anatomy and Embryology, Department of Anatomy and Animal Production, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Santiago de Compostela Lugo, Spain
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Nakada T, Hagino-Yamagishi K, Nakanishi K, Yokosuka M, Saito TR, Toyoda F, Hasunuma I, Nakakura T, Kikuyama S. Expression of G proteins in the olfactory receptor neurons of the newt Cynops pyrrhogaster: their unique projection into the olfactory bulbs. J Comp Neurol 2014; 522:3501-19. [PMID: 24771457 DOI: 10.1002/cne.23619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2013] [Revised: 04/21/2014] [Accepted: 04/22/2014] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
We analyzed the expression of G protein α subunits and the axonal projection into the brain in the olfactory system of the semiaquatic newt Cynops pyrrhogaster by immunostaining with antibodies against Gαolf and Gαo , by in situ hybridization using probes for Gαolf , Gαo , and Gαi2 , and by neuronal tracing with DiI and DiA. The main olfactory epithelium (OE) consists of two parts, the ventral OE and dorsal OE. In the ventral OE, the Gαolf - and Gαo -expressing neurons are located in the apical and basal zone of the OE, respectively. This zonal expression was similar to that of the OE in the middle cavity of the fully aquatic toad Xenopus laevis. However, the Gαolf - and Gαo -expressing neurons in the newt ventral OE project their axons toward the main olfactory bulb (MOB) and the accessory olfactory bulb (AOB), respectively, whereas in Xenopus, the axons of both neurons project solely toward the MOB. In the dorsal OE of the newt, as in the principal cavity of Xenopus, the majority of the neurons express Gαolf and extend their axons into the MOB. In the vomeronasal organ (VNO), the neurons mostly express Gαo . These neurons and quite a few Gαolf -expressing neurons project their axons toward the AOB. This feature is similar to that in the terrestrial toad Bufo japonicus and is different from that in Xenopus, in which VNO neurons express solely Gαo , although their axons invariably project toward the AOB. We discuss the findings in the light of diversification and evolution of the vertebrate olfactory system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomoaki Nakada
- Department of Comparative and Behavioral Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, Tokyo, 180-8602, Japan
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Oboti L, Pérez-Gómez A, Keller M, Jacobi E, Birnbaumer L, Leinders-Zufall T, Zufall F, Chamero P. A wide range of pheromone-stimulated sexual and reproductive behaviors in female mice depend on G protein Gαo. BMC Biol 2014. [PMID: 24886577 DOI: 10.1186/1741‐7007‐12‐31] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Optimal reproductive fitness is essential for the biological success and survival of species. The vomeronasal organ is strongly implicated in the display of sexual and reproductive behaviors in female mice, yet the roles that apical and basal vomeronasal neuron populations play in controlling these gender-specific behaviors remain largely unclear. RESULTS To dissect the neural pathways underlying these functions, we genetically inactivated the basal vomeronasal organ layer using conditional, cell-specific ablation of the G protein Gαo. Female mice mutant for Gαo show severe alterations in sexual and reproductive behaviors, timing of puberty onset, and estrous cycle. These mutant mice are insensitive to reproductive facilitation stimulated by male pheromones that accelerate puberty and induce ovulation. Gαo-mutant females exhibit a striking reduction in sexual receptivity or lordosis behavior to males, but gender discrimination seems to be intact. These mice also show a loss in male scent preference, which requires a learned association for volatile olfactory signals with other nonvolatile ownership signals that are contained in the high molecular weight fraction of male urine. Thus, Gαo impacts on both instinctive and learned social responses to pheromones. CONCLUSIONS These results highlight that sensory neurons of the Gαo-expressing vomeronasal subsystem, together with the receptors they express and the molecular cues they detect, control a wide range of fundamental mating and reproductive behaviors in female mice.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Frank Zufall
- Department of Physiology, University of Saarland School of Medicine, 66421 Homburg, Germany.
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Oboti L, Pérez-Gómez A, Keller M, Jacobi E, Birnbaumer L, Leinders-Zufall T, Zufall F, Chamero P. A wide range of pheromone-stimulated sexual and reproductive behaviors in female mice depend on G protein Gαo. BMC Biol 2014; 12:31. [PMID: 24886577 PMCID: PMC4038847 DOI: 10.1186/1741-7007-12-31] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2014] [Accepted: 04/25/2014] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Optimal reproductive fitness is essential for the biological success and survival of species. The vomeronasal organ is strongly implicated in the display of sexual and reproductive behaviors in female mice, yet the roles that apical and basal vomeronasal neuron populations play in controlling these gender-specific behaviors remain largely unclear. Results To dissect the neural pathways underlying these functions, we genetically inactivated the basal vomeronasal organ layer using conditional, cell-specific ablation of the G protein Gαo. Female mice mutant for Gαo show severe alterations in sexual and reproductive behaviors, timing of puberty onset, and estrous cycle. These mutant mice are insensitive to reproductive facilitation stimulated by male pheromones that accelerate puberty and induce ovulation. Gαo-mutant females exhibit a striking reduction in sexual receptivity or lordosis behavior to males, but gender discrimination seems to be intact. These mice also show a loss in male scent preference, which requires a learned association for volatile olfactory signals with other nonvolatile ownership signals that are contained in the high molecular weight fraction of male urine. Thus, Gαo impacts on both instinctive and learned social responses to pheromones. Conclusions These results highlight that sensory neurons of the Gαo-expressing vomeronasal subsystem, together with the receptors they express and the molecular cues they detect, control a wide range of fundamental mating and reproductive behaviors in female mice.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Frank Zufall
- Department of Physiology, University of Saarland School of Medicine, 66421 Homburg, Germany.
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Ploss V, Gebhart VM, Dölz W, Jirikowski GF. Sex hormone binding globulin in the rat olfactory system. J Chem Neuroanat 2014; 57-58:10-4. [PMID: 24681170 DOI: 10.1016/j.jchemneu.2014.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2014] [Revised: 03/12/2014] [Accepted: 03/12/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Ovarian steroids are known to act on the olfactory system. Their mode of action, however, is mostly unclear to date since nuclear receptors are lacking in sensory neurons. Here we used immunocytochemistry and RT-PCR to study expression and distribution of sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) in the rat olfactory system. Single sensory cells in the olfactory mucosa and their projections in the olfactory bulb showed specific SHBG immunostaining as determined by double immunofluorescence with olfactory marker protein OMP. Larger groups of SHBG stained sensory cells occurred in the vomeronasal organ (VNO). A portion of the olfactory glomeruli in the accessory olfactory bulb showed large networks of SHBG positive nerve fibres. Some of the mitral cells showed SHBG immune fluorescence. RT-PCR revealed SHBG encoding mRNA in the olfactory mucosa, in the VNO and in the olfactory bulbs indicating intrinsic expression of the binding globulin. The VNO and its related projections within the limbic system are known to be sensitive to gonadal steroid hormones. We conclude that SHBG may be of functional importance for rapid effects of olfactory steroids on limbic functions including the control of reproductive behaviours through pheromones.
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Affiliation(s)
- V Ploss
- Department of Anatomy II, University Hospital Jena, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Germany
| | - V M Gebhart
- Department of Anatomy II, University Hospital Jena, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Germany
| | - W Dölz
- Department of Anatomy II, University Hospital Jena, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Germany
| | - G F Jirikowski
- Department of Anatomy II, University Hospital Jena, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Germany.
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Ferrando S, Gallus L. Is the olfactory system of cartilaginous fishes a vomeronasal system? Front Neuroanat 2013; 7:37. [PMID: 24146638 PMCID: PMC3797960 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2013.00037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2013] [Accepted: 10/02/2013] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Sara Ferrando
- Department of Earth, Environmental and Life Science (DISTAV), University of Genoa Genoa, Italy
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Abstract
Mammalian pheromones control a myriad of innate social behaviors and acutely regulate hormone levels. Responses to pheromones are highly robust, reproducible, and stereotyped and likely involve developmentally predetermined neural circuits. Here, I review several facets of pheromone transduction in mammals, including (a) chemosensory receptors and signaling components of the main olfactory epithelium and vomeronasal organ involved in pheromone detection; (b) pheromone-activated neural circuits subject to sex-specific and state-dependent modulation; and (c) the striking chemical diversity of mammalian pheromones, which range from small, volatile molecules and sulfated steroids to large families of proteins. Finally, I review (d) molecular mechanisms underlying various behavioral and endocrine responses, including modulation of puberty and estrous; control of reproduction, aggression, suckling, and parental behaviors; individual recognition; and distinguishing of own species from predators, competitors, and prey. Deconstruction of pheromone transduction mechanisms provides a critical foundation for understanding how odor response pathways generate instinctive behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen D Liberles
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115;
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