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Lippner DS, Xu J, Ma S, Reisert J, Zhao H. Phosphodiesterase 5A regulates the vomeronasal pump in mice. Genesis 2024; 62:e23603. [PMID: 38738564 PMCID: PMC11338583 DOI: 10.1002/dvg.23603] [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: 04/25/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024]
Abstract
The vomeronasal organ (VNO) is a specialized chemoreceptive structure in many vertebrates that detects chemical stimuli, mostly pheromones, which often elicit innate behaviors such as mating and aggression. Previous studies in rodents have demonstrated that chemical stimuli are actively transported to the VNO via a blood vessel-based pumping mechanism, and this pumping mechanism is necessary for vomeronasal stimulation in behaving animals. However, the molecular mechanisms that regulate the vomeronasal pump remain mostly unknown. In this study, we observed a high level of expression of phosphodiesterase 5A (PDE5A) in the vomeronasal blood vessel of mice. We provided evidence to support the potential role of PDE5A in vomeronasal pump regulation. Local application of PDE5A inhibitors-sildenafil or tadalafil-to the vomeronasal organ (VNO) reduced stimulus delivery into the VNO, decreased the pheromone-induced activity of vomeronasal sensory neurons, and attenuated male-male aggressive behaviors. PDE5A is well known to play a role in regulating blood vessel tone in several organs. Our study advances our understanding of the molecular regulation of the vomeronasal pump.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dennean S. Lippner
- Department of Biology, The Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N. Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Jiang Xu
- Monell Chemical Senses Center, 3500 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
| | - Siqi Ma
- Department of Biology, The Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N. Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Johannes Reisert
- Monell Chemical Senses Center, 3500 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
| | - Haiqing Zhao
- Department of Biology, The Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N. Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
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2
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Cerbantez-Bueno V, Viñuela-Berni V, Muñoz-Mayorga DE, Morales T, Corona R. Prolactin promotes the recruitment of main olfactory bulb cells and enhances the behavioral exploration toward a socio-sexual stimulus in female mice. Horm Behav 2024; 162:105527. [PMID: 38492348 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2024.105527] [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: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024]
Abstract
Olfactory communication is triggered by pheromones that profoundly influence neuroendocrine responses to drive social interactions. Two principal olfactory systems process pheromones: the main and the vomeronasal or accessory system. Prolactin receptors are expressed in both systems suggesting a participation in the processing of olfactory information. We previously reported that prolactin participates in the sexual and olfactory bulb maturation of females. Therefore, we explored the expression of prolactin receptors within the olfactory bulb during sexual maturation and the direct responses of prolactin upon pheromonal exposure. Additionally, we assessed the behavioral response of adult females exposed to male sawdust after prolactin administration and the consequent activation of main and accessory olfactory bulb and their first central relays, the piriform cortex and the medial amygdala. Last, we investigated the intracellular pathway activated by prolactin within the olfactory bulb. Here, prolactin receptor expression remained constant during all maturation stages within the main olfactory bulb but decreased in adulthood in the accessory olfactory bulb. Behaviorally, females that received prolactin actively explored the male stimulus. An increased cFos activation in the amygdala and in the glomerular cells of the whole olfactory bulb was observed, but an augmented response in the mitral cells was only found within the main olfactory bulb after prolactin administration and the exposure to male stimulus. Interestingly, the ERK pathway was upregulated in the main olfactory bulb after exposure to a male stimulus. Overall, our results suggest that, in female mice, prolactin participates in the processing of chemosignals and behavioral responses by activating the main olfactory system and diminishing the classical vomeronasal response to pheromones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viridiana Cerbantez-Bueno
- Laboratorio de Neuroanatomía Funcional y Neuroendocrinología, Instituto de Neurobiología (INB), Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Juriquilla, Querétaro, Mexico
| | - Verónica Viñuela-Berni
- Laboratorio de Neuroanatomía Funcional y Neuroendocrinología, Instituto de Neurobiología (INB), Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Juriquilla, Querétaro, Mexico
| | - Daniel Eduardo Muñoz-Mayorga
- Laboratorio de Neuroanatomía Funcional y Neuroendocrinología, Instituto de Neurobiología (INB), Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Juriquilla, Querétaro, Mexico
| | - Teresa Morales
- Laboratorio de Neuroanatomía Funcional y Neuroendocrinología, Instituto de Neurobiología (INB), Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Juriquilla, Querétaro, Mexico
| | - Rebeca Corona
- Laboratorio de Neuroanatomía Funcional y Neuroendocrinología, Instituto de Neurobiología (INB), Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Juriquilla, Querétaro, Mexico.
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3
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Rocha A, Nguyen QAT, Haga-Yamanaka S. Type 2 vomeronasal receptor-A4 subfamily: Potential predator sensors in mice. Genesis 2024; 62:e23597. [PMID: 38590121 PMCID: PMC11018355 DOI: 10.1002/dvg.23597] [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: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
Sensory signals detected by olfactory sensory organs are critical regulators of animal behavior. An accessory olfactory organ, the vomeronasal organ, detects cues from other animals and plays a pivotal role in intra- and inter-species interactions in mice. However, how ethologically relevant cues control mouse behavior through approximately 350 vomeronasal sensory receptor proteins largely remains elusive. The type 2 vomeronasal receptor-A4 (V2R-A4) subfamily members have been repeatedly detected from vomeronasal sensory neurons responsive to predator cues, suggesting a potential role of this receptor subfamily as a sensor for predators. This review focuses on this intriguing subfamily, delving into its receptor functions and genetic characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Rocha
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of California, Riverside
| | | | - Sachiko Haga-Yamanaka
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of California, Riverside
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Systems Biology, University of California, Riverside
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4
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Scott R, Aubry A, Cuttoli RDD, Rachel FF, Lyonna P, Cathomas F, Burnett C, Yang Y, Yuan C, Lablanca A, Chan K, Lin HY, Froemke R, Li L. A critical role for cortical amygdala circuitry in shaping social encounters. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-3015820. [PMID: 37461537 PMCID: PMC10350173 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3015820/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/23/2023]
Abstract
Aggression is an evolutionarily conserved behavior that controls social hierarchies and protects valuable resources like mates, food, and territory. In mice, aggressive behaviour can be broken down into an appetitive phase, which involves approach and investigation, and a consummatory phase, which involves biting, kicking, and wrestling. By performing an unsupervised weighted correlation network analysis on whole-brain c-Fos expression, we identified a cluster of brain regions including hypothalamic and amygdalar sub-regions and olfactory cortical regions highly co-activated in male, but not female aggressors (AGG). The posterolateral cortical amygdala (COApl), an extended olfactory structure, was found to be a hub region based on the number and strength of correlations with other regions in the cluster. Our data further show that estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1)-expressing cells in the COApl exhibit increased activity during attack behaviour, and during bouts of investigation which precede an attack, in male mice only. Chemogenetic or optogenetic inhibition of COApl ESR1 cells in AGG males reduces aggression and increases pro-social investigation without affecting social reward/reinforcement behavior. We further confirmed that COApl ESR1 projections to the ventrolateral portion of the ventromedial hypothalamus and central amygdala are necessary for these behaviours. Collectively, these data suggest that in aggressive males, COApl ESR1 cells respond specifically to social stimuli, thereby enhancing their salience and promoting attack behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - C Burnett
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Long Li
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
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5
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Kobayashi-Sakashita M, Kiyokawa Y, Takeuchi Y. Parallel Olfactory Systems Synergistically Activate the Posteroventral Part of the Medial Amygdala Upon Alarm Pheromone Detection in Rats. Neuroscience 2023; 521:123-133. [PMID: 37121380 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2023.04.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
In rats, a mixture of hexanal and 4-methylpentanal is a main component of the alarm pheromone. When detected by the main olfactory system (MOS) and the vomeronasal system, respectively, they activate the anterior part of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNSTa). Therefore, the information from the two olfactory systems is expected to be integrated before being transmitted to the BNSTa. To specify the integration site, we examined Fos expression in 16 brain regions in response to water (n = 10), hexanal (n = 9), 4-methylpentanal (n = 9), the mixture (n = 9), or the alarm pheromone (n = 9) in male rats. The posteroventral part of the medial amygdala showed increased Fos expression to hexanal and 4-methylpentanal. The expression was further increased by the mixture. Therefore, this region is suggested as the integration site. In addition, the BNSTa, paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus, and anteroventral, anterodorsal, and posterodorsal parts of the medial amygdala were suggested to be located downstream of the integrated site because only the mixture increased Fos expression. We suggest that the posterolateral part of the cortical amygdala is upstream of the integration site in the MOS because all stimuli increased Fos expression. The posterior part of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis and posteromedial part of the cortical amygdala were suggested as being located upstream in the vomeronasal system because 4-methylpentanal and the mixture increased Fos expression. These results provide information about the neural pathway underlying the alarm pheromone effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mao Kobayashi-Sakashita
- Laboratory of Veterinary Ethology, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
| | - Yasushi Kiyokawa
- Laboratory of Veterinary Ethology, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan.
| | - Yukari Takeuchi
- Laboratory of Veterinary Ethology, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
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6
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Amos C, Fox MA, Su J. Collagen XIX is required for pheromone recognition and glutamatergic synapse formation in mouse accessory olfactory bulb. Front Cell Neurosci 2023; 17:1157577. [PMID: 37091919 PMCID: PMC10113670 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2023.1157577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/25/2023] Open
Abstract
In mammals, the accessory olfactory bulb (AOB) receives input from vomeronasal sensory neurons (VSN) which detect pheromones, chemical cues released by animals to regulate the physiology or behaviors of other animals of the same species. Cytoarchitecturally, cells within the AOB are segregated into a glomerular layer (GL), mitral cell layer (MCL), and granule cell layer (GCL). While the cells and circuitry of these layers has been well studied, the molecular mechanism underlying the assembly of such circuitry in the mouse AOB remains unclear. With the goal of identifying synaptogenic mechanisms in AOB, our attention was drawn to Collagen XIX, a non-fibrillar collagen generated by neurons in the mammalian telencephalon that has previously been shown to regulate the assembly of synapses. Here, we used both a targeted mouse mutant that lacks Collagen XIX globally and a conditional allele allowing for cell-specific deletion of this collagen to test if the loss of Collagen XIX causes impaired synaptogenesis in the mouse AOB. These analyses not only revealed defects in excitatory synapse distribution in these Collagen XIX-deficient mutants, but also showed that these mutant mice exhibit altered behavioral responses to pheromones. Although this collagen has been demonstrated to play synaptogenic roles in the telencephalon, those roles are at perisomatic inhibitory synapses, results here are the first to demonstrate the function of this unconventional collagen in glutamatergic synapse formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chase Amos
- Center for Neurobiology Research, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion (VTC), Roanoke, VA, United States
| | - Michael A. Fox
- Center for Neurobiology Research, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion (VTC), Roanoke, VA, United States
- School of Neuroscience, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, Roanoke, VA, United States
| | - Jianmin Su
- Center for Neurobiology Research, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion (VTC), Roanoke, VA, United States
- School of Neuroscience, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States
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7
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Huang JS, Kunkhyen T, Rangel AN, Brechbill TR, Gregory JD, Winson-Bushby ED, Liu B, Avon JT, Muggleton RJ, Cheetham CEJ. Immature olfactory sensory neurons provide behaviourally relevant sensory input to the olfactory bulb. Nat Commun 2022; 13:6194. [PMID: 36261441 PMCID: PMC9582225 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-33967-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Postnatal neurogenesis provides an opportunity to understand how newborn neurons integrate into circuits to restore function. Newborn olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) wire into highly organized olfactory bulb (OB) circuits throughout life, enabling lifelong plasticity and regeneration. Immature OSNs form functional synapses capable of evoking firing in OB projection neurons but what contribution, if any, they make to odor processing is unknown. Here, we show that immature OSNs provide odor input to the mouse OB, where they form monosynaptic connections with excitatory neurons. Importantly, immature OSNs respond as selectively to odorants as mature OSNs and exhibit graded responses across a wider range of odorant concentrations than mature OSNs, suggesting that immature and mature OSNs provide distinct odor input streams. Furthermore, mice can successfully perform odor detection and discrimination tasks using sensory input from immature OSNs alone. Together, our findings suggest that immature OSNs play a previously unappreciated role in olfactory-guided behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jane S Huang
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh, 200 Lothrop St, Pittsburgh, PA, 15232, USA
| | - Tenzin Kunkhyen
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh, 200 Lothrop St, Pittsburgh, PA, 15232, USA
| | - Alexander N Rangel
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh, 200 Lothrop St, Pittsburgh, PA, 15232, USA
| | - Taryn R Brechbill
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh, 200 Lothrop St, Pittsburgh, PA, 15232, USA
| | - Jordan D Gregory
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh, 200 Lothrop St, Pittsburgh, PA, 15232, USA
| | - Emily D Winson-Bushby
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh, 200 Lothrop St, Pittsburgh, PA, 15232, USA
| | - Beichen Liu
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh, 200 Lothrop St, Pittsburgh, PA, 15232, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University, 4400 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - Jonathan T Avon
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh, 200 Lothrop St, Pittsburgh, PA, 15232, USA
| | - Ryan J Muggleton
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh, 200 Lothrop St, Pittsburgh, PA, 15232, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University, 4400 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - Claire E J Cheetham
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh, 200 Lothrop St, Pittsburgh, PA, 15232, USA.
- Department of Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University, 4400 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA.
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8
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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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9
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The role of ciliopathy-associated type 3 adenylyl cyclase in infanticidal behavior in virgin adult male mice. iScience 2022; 25:104534. [PMID: 35754726 PMCID: PMC9218507 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Revised: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Virgin adult male mice often display killing of alien newborns, defined as infanticide, and this behavior is dependent on olfactory signaling. Olfactory perception is achieved by the main olfactory system (MOS) or vomeronasal system (VNS). Although it has been established that the VNS is crucial for infanticide in male mice, the role of the MOS in infanticide remains unknown. Herein, by producing lesions via ZnSO4 perfusion and N-methyl-D-aspartic acid stereotactic injection, we demonstrated that the main olfactory epithelium (MOE), anterior olfactory nucleus (AON), or ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) is crucial for infanticide in adult males. By using CRISPR-Cas9 coupled with adeno-associated viruses to induce specific knockdown of type 3 adenylyl cyclase (AC3) in these tissues, we further demonstrated that AC3, a ciliopathy-associated protein, in the MOE and the expression of related proteins in the AON or VMH are necessary for infanticidal behavior in virgin adult male mice. MOE lesions and knockdown of AC3 in the MOE result in abnormal infanticidal behavior The infanticidal behavior of male mice is impaired by lesioning of the AON or VMH AC3 knockdown in the AON or VMH affects the infanticidal behavior of male mice
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10
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Social interactions increase activation of vasopressin-responsive neurons in the dorsal raphe. Neuroscience 2022; 495:25-46. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2022.05.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Revised: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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11
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Schulz S, Poth D, Peram PS, Hötling S, Menke M, Melnik K, Röpke R. Chemical Diversity of Volatile Macrocylic Lactones from Frogs. Synlett 2021. [DOI: 10.1055/a-1381-2881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
AbstractFor a long time, frogs were believed to communicate primarily via the acoustic channel, but during the last decades it became obvious that various lineages also use chemical communication. In this Account we present our research on the identification of volatile lactones from Madagascan Mantellidae and African Hyperoliidae frogs. Both possess male specific glands that can disseminate a range of volatile compounds. Key constituents are macrocyclic lactones. They show high variability in structure and occurrence. We focus here on the synthetic approaches we have used to clarify constitution and configuration of the glandular compounds. Key synthetic methods are ring-closing metathesis and nucleophilic epoxide opening. Often, but not always, the natural compounds occurs in amounts that excludes their investigation by NMR spectroscopy. Instead, we use GC/MS analysis, GC/IR, microreactions, and synthesis to identify such components. Several aspects of our work will be described giving some insight in our scientific approach.1 Introduction2 Macrocylic Lactones from the Fatty Acid Biosynthetic Pathway3 Unsaturated Lactones4 Terpenoid Lactones5 Macrolide Occurrence6 Conclusions
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12
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Neural and Hormonal Basis of Opposite-Sex Preference by Chemosensory Signals. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22158311. [PMID: 34361077 PMCID: PMC8347621 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22158311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Revised: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In mammalian reproduction, sexually active males seek female conspecifics, while estrous females try to approach males. This sex-specific response tendency is called sexual preference. In small rodents, sexual preference cues are mainly chemosensory signals, including pheromones. In this article, we review the physiological mechanisms involved in sexual preference for opposite-sex chemosensory signals in well-studied laboratory rodents, mice, rats, and hamsters of both sexes, especially an overview of peripheral sensory receptors, and hormonal and central regulation. In the hormonal regulation section, we discuss potential rodent brain bisexuality, as it includes neural substrates controlling both masculine and feminine sexual preferences, i.e., masculine preference for female odors and the opposite. In the central regulation section, we show the substantial circuit regulating sexual preference and also the influence of sexual experience that innate attractants activate in the brain reward system to establish the learned attractant. Finally, we review the regulation of sexual preference by neuropeptides, oxytocin, vasopressin, and kisspeptin. Through this review, we clarified the contradictions and deficiencies in our current knowledge on the neuroendocrine regulation of sexual preference and sought to present problems requiring further study.
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13
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Ventura-Aquino E, Paredes RG. Pheromones and Same-Sex Sexual Behavior. ARCHIVES OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR 2021; 50:2309-2311. [PMID: 32274743 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-020-01690-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2019] [Revised: 03/22/2020] [Accepted: 03/23/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Ventura-Aquino
- Escuela Nacional de Estudios Superiores, Unidad Juriquilla UNAM, Querétaro, Qro, México
| | - Raúl G Paredes
- Escuela Nacional de Estudios Superiores, Unidad Juriquilla UNAM, Querétaro, Qro, México.
- Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Juriquilla, Qro, 76230, México.
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14
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Pfau D, Jordan CL, Breedlove SM. The De-Scent of Sexuality: Did Loss of a Pheromone Signaling Protein Permit the Evolution of Same-Sex Sexual Behavior in Primates? ARCHIVES OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR 2021; 50:2267-2276. [PMID: 31016493 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-018-1377-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2018] [Revised: 12/12/2018] [Accepted: 12/13/2018] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Primate same-sex sexual behavior (SSSB) is rarely observed in strepsirrhine species, and only somewhat more common in platyrrhines, but is observed in nearly all catarrhine species, including humans, suggesting the common catarrhine ancestor as the origin of routine SSSB. In mice, disruption of the transient receptor potential cation channel 2 (TRPC2) gene, which is crucial for transducing chemosensory signals from pheromones in the vomeronasal organ, greatly increased the likelihood of SSSB. We note that catarrhine primates share a common deleterious mutation in this gene, indicating that the protein was dysfunctional in the common catarrhine ancestral primate approximately 25 mya (million years ago). We hypothesize that the loss of this protein for processing pheromonal signals in males and females made SSSB more likely in a primate ancestral species by effectively lifting a pheromonally mediated barrier to SSSB and that this was an important precursor to the evolution of such behavior in humans. Additional comparisons between SSSB and the functional status of the TRPC2 gene or related proteins across primate species could lend support to or falsify this hypothesis. Our current research indicates that loss of TRPC2 function in developing mice leads to the loss or attenuation of sexually dimorphisms in the adult brain, which may help us to understand the biological underpinnings of SSSB. Our hypothesis offers an ultimate evolutionary explanation for SSSB in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Pfau
- Neuroscience Program, Michigan State University, Giltner Hall, 293 Farm Lane, Room 108, East Lansing, MI, 48824-1101, USA.
| | - Cynthia L Jordan
- Neuroscience Program, Michigan State University, Giltner Hall, 293 Farm Lane, Room 108, East Lansing, MI, 48824-1101, USA
| | - S Marc Breedlove
- Neuroscience Program, Michigan State University, Giltner Hall, 293 Farm Lane, Room 108, East Lansing, MI, 48824-1101, USA
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15
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Sievert T, Ylönen H, Blande JD, Saunier A, van der Hulst D, Ylönen O, Haapakoski M. Bank vole alarm pheromone chemistry and effects in the field. Oecologia 2021; 196:667-677. [PMID: 34173057 PMCID: PMC8292297 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-021-04977-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Accepted: 06/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Chemical communication plays an important role in mammalian life history decisions. Animals send and receive information based on body odour secretions. Odour cues provide important social information on identity, kinship, sex, group membership or genetic quality. Recent findings show, that rodents alarm their conspecifics with danger-dependent body odours after encountering a predator. In this study, we aim to identify the chemistry of alarm pheromones (AP) in the bank vole, a common boreal rodent. Furthermore, the vole foraging efficiency under perceived fear was measured in a set of field experiments in large outdoor enclosures. During the analysis of bank vole odour by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, we identified that 1-octanol, 2-octanone, and one unknown compound as the most likely candidates to function as alarm signals. These compounds were independent of the vole’s sex. In a field experiment, voles were foraging less, i.e. they were more afraid in the AP odour foraging trays during the first day, as the odour was fresh, than in the second day. This verified the short lasting effect of volatile APs. Our results clarified the chemistry of alarming body odour compounds in mammals, and enhanced our understanding of the ecological role of AP and chemical communication in mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thorbjörn Sievert
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, Konnevesi Research Station, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35, 40014, Jyväskylä, Finland.
| | - Hannu Ylönen
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, Konnevesi Research Station, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35, 40014, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - James D Blande
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, 70211, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Amélie Saunier
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, 70211, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Dave van der Hulst
- Environmental Sciences Department, Resource Ecology Group, Wageningen University, 6700 AA, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Olga Ylönen
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, Konnevesi Research Station, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35, 40014, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Marko Haapakoski
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, Konnevesi Research Station, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35, 40014, Jyväskylä, Finland
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16
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Gvozdeva OV, Achasova KM, Litvinova NA, Kozhevnikova EN, Litvinova EA. Female Scent Activated Expression of Arginase1 and Inducible NO-Synthetase in Lung of BALB/c Male Mice. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:1756. [PMID: 34208376 PMCID: PMC8231181 DOI: 10.3390/ani11061756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Revised: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Scent signals play an important role in the life of rodents. The scent of the opposite sex can modulate immunity. In mice populations with natural specific pathogens, in males, the scent of a female leads to a redistribution of leukocytes between the lung and the blood, resistance to the influenza virus, and a decrease in antibody production, but not in the development of inflammation induced by bacterial endotoxins. This study demonstrates the effect of the scent of soiled bedding of specific pathogen-free (SPF) status female mice on the percentage of different types of leukocytes in the blood, the expression of Nos2, Arg1, and Foxp3 genes, and the presence of M1/M2 macrophages in the lungs of male BALB/c mice. The scent of the female SPF mice caused a redistribution between T- and B-cells in the blood, the increase in the expression of Nos2, Arg1 genes, and the percentage of M1 type macrophages in the lung, but did not affect the different types of T-cells in the periphery or the lungs. Activation of macrophages in the lung is part of mucosal immunity, which is necessary for males as an adaptive mechanism to prevent potential infection during the search for a sexual partner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga V. Gvozdeva
- Siberian Federal Scientific Centre of Agro-BioTechnologies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 267, 630501 Krasnoobsk, Russia; (O.V.G.); (K.M.A.); (E.N.K.)
| | - Kseniya M. Achasova
- Siberian Federal Scientific Centre of Agro-BioTechnologies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 267, 630501 Krasnoobsk, Russia; (O.V.G.); (K.M.A.); (E.N.K.)
| | - Nadezhda A. Litvinova
- Faculty of General Medicine, Kemerovo State Medical University, 650001 Kemerovo, Russia;
| | - Elena N. Kozhevnikova
- Siberian Federal Scientific Centre of Agro-BioTechnologies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 267, 630501 Krasnoobsk, Russia; (O.V.G.); (K.M.A.); (E.N.K.)
- Scientific Research Institute of Neurosciences and Medicine, 630117 Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Ekaterina A. Litvinova
- Siberian Federal Scientific Centre of Agro-BioTechnologies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 267, 630501 Krasnoobsk, Russia; (O.V.G.); (K.M.A.); (E.N.K.)
- Scientific Research Institute of Neurosciences and Medicine, 630117 Novosibirsk, Russia
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17
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An amygdala circuit that suppresses social engagement. Nature 2021; 593:114-118. [PMID: 33790466 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-03413-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2020] [Accepted: 03/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Innate social behaviours, such as mating and fighting, are fundamental to animal reproduction and survival1. However, social engagements can also put an individual at risk2. Little is known about the neural mechanisms that enable appropriate risk assessment and the suppression of hazardous social interactions. Here we identify the posteromedial nucleus of the cortical amygdala (COApm) as a locus required for the suppression of male mating when a female mouse is unhealthy. Using anatomical tracing, functional imaging and circuit-level epistatic analyses, we show that suppression of mating with an unhealthy female is mediated by the COApm projections onto the glutamatergic population of the medial amygdalar nucleus (MEA). We further show that the role of the COApm-to-MEA connection in regulating male mating behaviour relies on the neuromodulator thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH). TRH is expressed in the COApm, whereas the TRH receptor (TRHR) is found in the postsynaptic MEA glutamatergic neurons. Manipulating neural activity of TRH-expressing neurons in the COApm modulated male mating behaviour. In the MEA, activation of the TRHR pathway by ligand infusion inhibited mating even towards healthy female mice, whereas genetic ablation of TRHR facilitated mating with unhealthy individuals. In summary, we reveal a neural pathway that relies on the neuromodulator TRH to modulate social interactions according to the health status of the reciprocating individual. Individuals must balance the cost of social interactions relative to the benefit, as deficits in the ability to select healthy mates may lead to the spread of disease.
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18
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Hartig R, Wolf D, Schmeisser MJ, Kelsch W. Genetic influences of autism candidate genes on circuit wiring and olfactory decoding. Cell Tissue Res 2021; 383:581-595. [PMID: 33515293 PMCID: PMC7872953 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-020-03390-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2020] [Accepted: 12/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Olfaction supports a multitude of behaviors vital for social communication and interactions between conspecifics. Intact sensory processing is contingent upon proper circuit wiring. Disturbances in genetic factors controlling circuit assembly and synaptic wiring can lead to neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), where impaired social interactions and communication are core symptoms. The variability in behavioral phenotype expression is also contingent upon the role environmental factors play in defining genetic expression. Considering the prevailing clinical diagnosis of ASD, research on therapeutic targets for autism is essential. Behavioral impairments may be identified along a range of increasingly complex social tasks. Hence, the assessment of social behavior and communication is progressing towards more ethologically relevant tasks. Garnering a more accurate understanding of social processing deficits in the sensory domain may greatly contribute to the development of therapeutic targets. With that framework, studies have found a viable link between social behaviors, circuit wiring, and altered neuronal coding related to the processing of salient social stimuli. Here, the relationship between social odor processing in rodents and humans is examined in the context of health and ASD, with special consideration for how genetic expression and neuronal connectivity may regulate behavioral phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renée Hartig
- Department of Psychiatry & Psychotherapy, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg-University, 55131, Mainz, Germany.,Focus Program Translational Neurosciences (FTN), University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg-University, 55131, Mainz, Germany.,Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, 68159, Mannheim, Germany.,Institute for Microscopic Anatomy and Neurobiology, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg-University, 55131, Mainz, Germany
| | - David Wolf
- Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, 68159, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Michael J Schmeisser
- Focus Program Translational Neurosciences (FTN), University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg-University, 55131, Mainz, Germany.,Institute for Microscopic Anatomy and Neurobiology, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg-University, 55131, Mainz, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Kelsch
- Department of Psychiatry & Psychotherapy, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg-University, 55131, Mainz, Germany. .,Focus Program Translational Neurosciences (FTN), University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg-University, 55131, Mainz, Germany. .,Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, 68159, Mannheim, Germany.
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19
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Cross SKJ, Martin YH, Salia S, Gamba I, Major CA, Hassan S, Parsons KA, Swift-Gallant A. Puberty is a Critical Period for Vomeronasal Organ Mediation of Socio-sexual Behavior in Mice. Front Behav Neurosci 2021; 14:606788. [PMID: 33551763 PMCID: PMC7862124 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2020.606788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2020] [Accepted: 12/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic disruption of the vomeronasal organ (VNO), an organ responsible for pheromone processing, drastically alters socio-sexual behavior in mice. However, it is not known whether the VNO has a role during the pubertal organizational period when sex-typical socio-sexual behaviors emerge, or if disruption of the organ in adulthood is sufficient to alter socio-sexual behavior. To bypass the lifelong VNO disruption of genetic knockout models, we surgically ablated the VNO of male and female mice either during the peripubertal period [postnatal day (PND) 28–30] or adulthood (PND 58–60), with sham controls at both ages. We ruled out anosmia via the buried food test and assessed sexual odor preferences by simultaneously exposing mice to same- and opposite-sex soiled-bedding. We then measured territorial aggression with the resident-intruder paradigm and assessed sexual behavior in response to an encounter with an estrus-induced female. Neural activity approximated by FOS-immunoreactivity along the VNO-accessory olfactory pathway was measured in response to opposite-sex odors. We found that peripubertal VNO ablation decreased sexual odor preferences and neural activity in response to opposite-sex odors, and drastically reduced territorial aggression in male mice. Conversely, adult VNO ablation resulted in subtle differences in sexual odor preferences compared with sham controls. Regardless of the VNO condition, mice displayed sex-typical copulatory behaviors. Together, these results suggest that puberty is a critical period in development whereby the VNO contributes to the sexual differentiation of behavior and neural response to conspecific odors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah K J Cross
- Department of Psychology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL, Canada
| | - Yellow H Martin
- Department of Psychology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL, Canada
| | - Stephanie Salia
- Department of Psychology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL, Canada
| | - Iain Gamba
- Department of Psychology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL, Canada
| | - Christina A Major
- Department of Psychology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL, Canada
| | - Suhail Hassan
- Department of Psychology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL, Canada
| | - Katelyn A Parsons
- Department of Psychology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL, Canada
| | - Ashlyn Swift-Gallant
- Department of Psychology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL, Canada
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20
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Levy DR, Sofer Y, Brumfeld V, Zilkha N, Kimchi T. The Nasopalatine Ducts Are Required for Proper Pheromone Signaling in Mice. Front Neurosci 2020; 14:585323. [PMID: 33328853 PMCID: PMC7710809 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.585323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2020] [Accepted: 09/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The vomeronasal organ (VNO) specializes in detection of chemosignals, mainly pheromones, which control social communication and reproduction in many mammals. These pheromones must solubilize with nasal fluids before entering the VNO, and it was suggested that they are delivered to and cleared from the VNO by active pumping. Yet, the details of this pheromone delivery process are unclear. In this study, we first constructed a high-resolution 3D morphological image of the whole adult mouse snout, by using ultra-high-resolution micro-CT. We identified a net of micro tunnels starting from the nostrils and extending around and through the VNO. These micro tunnels connect the nasal cavity with the VNO and the oral cavity via the nasopalatine ducts (NPD). Other micro tunnels connect the nasal cavity to the main olfactory epithelium. We next demonstrated that physical obstruction of the NPD severely impairs the clearance of dissolved compounds from the VNO lumen. Moreover, we found that mice with blocked NPD display alterations in chemosignaling-evoked neuronal activation in brain regions associated with the vomeronasal system. Finally, NPD-blocked male mice exhibit reduced preference for female chemosignals, and impaired social interaction behavior. Taken together, our findings indicate that the NPD in mice are connected to both the nasal and oral cavity, serving an essential role in regulating the flow of soluble chemosignals through the VNO, and are required for proper pheromone-mediated social communication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dana Rubi Levy
- Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Yizhak Sofer
- Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Vlad Brumfeld
- Department of Structural Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Noga Zilkha
- Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Tali Kimchi
- Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
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21
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Abstract
Gonadal hormones contribute to the sexual differentiation of brain and behavior throughout the lifespan, from initial neural patterning to "activation" of adult circuits. Sexual behavior is an ideal system in which to investigate the mechanisms underlying hormonal activation of neural circuits. Sexual behavior is a hormonally regulated, innate social behavior found across species. Although both sexes seek out and engage in sexual behavior, the specific actions involved in mating are sexually dimorphic. Thus, the neural circuits mediating sexual motivation and behavior in males and females are overlapping yet distinct. Furthermore, sexual behavior is strongly dependent on circulating gonadal hormones in both sexes. There has been significant recent progress on elucidating how gonadal hormones modulate physiological properties within sexual behavior circuits with consequences for behavior. Therefore, in this mini-review we review the neural circuits of male and female sexual motivation and behavior, from initial sensory detection of pheromones to the extended amygdala and on to medial hypothalamic nuclei and reward systems. We also discuss how gonadal hormones impact the physiology and functioning of each node within these circuits. By better understanding the myriad of ways in which gonadal hormones impact sexual behavior circuits, we can gain a richer and more complete appreciation for the neural substrates of complex behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberly J Jennings
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, California
| | - Luis de Lecea
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, California
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22
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Wisman A, Shrira I. Sexual Chemosignals: Evidence that Men Process Olfactory Signals of Women's Sexual Arousal. ARCHIVES OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR 2020; 49:1505-1516. [PMID: 32026223 PMCID: PMC7299914 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-019-01588-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2018] [Revised: 11/05/2019] [Accepted: 11/12/2019] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Research suggests that humans can communicate emotional states (e.g., fear, sadness) via chemosignals. However, thus far little is known about whether sexual arousal can also be conveyed through chemosignals and how these signals might influence the receiver. In three experiments, and a subsequent mini meta-analysis, support was found for the hypothesis that men can process the scent of sexually aroused women and that exposure to these sexual chemosignals affect the subsequent perceptions and sexual motivation of men. Specifically, Experiment 1 revealed that men evaluate the axillary sweat of sexually aroused women as more attractive, compared to the scent of the same women when not sexually aroused. In addition, Experiment 2 showed that exposure to sexual chemosignals increased the men's sexual arousal. Experiment 3 found support for the thesis that exposure to sexual chemosignals would increase sexual motivation. As predicted, men devoted greater attention to and showed greater interest in mating with women who displayed sexual cues (e.g., scantily dressed, in seductive poses). By contrast, exposure to the sexual chemosignals did not alter males' attention and mating interest toward women who displayed no sexual cues. It is discussed how sexual chemosignals may function as an additional channel in the communication of sexual interest and how contextual factors can influence the dynamics of human sexual communication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arnaud Wisman
- School of Psychology, Keynes College, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent, CT2 7NP, UK.
| | - Ilan Shrira
- Department of Psychology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
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23
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Mohrhardt J, Nagel M, Fleck D, Ben-Shaul Y, Spehr M. Signal Detection and Coding in the Accessory Olfactory System. Chem Senses 2019; 43:667-695. [PMID: 30256909 PMCID: PMC6211456 DOI: 10.1093/chemse/bjy061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
In many mammalian species, the accessory olfactory system plays a central role in guiding behavioral and physiological responses to social and reproductive interactions. Because of its relatively compact structure and its direct access to amygdalar and hypothalamic nuclei, the accessory olfactory pathway provides an ideal system to study sensory control of complex mammalian behavior. During the last several years, many studies employing molecular, behavioral, and physiological approaches have significantly expanded and enhanced our understanding of this system. The purpose of the current review is to integrate older and newer studies to present an updated and comprehensive picture of vomeronasal signaling and coding with an emphasis on early accessory olfactory system processing stages. These include vomeronasal sensory neurons in the vomeronasal organ, and the circuitry of the accessory olfactory bulb. Because the overwhelming majority of studies on accessory olfactory system function employ rodents, this review is largely focused on this phylogenetic order, and on mice in particular. Taken together, the emerging view from both older literature and more recent studies is that the molecular, cellular, and circuit properties of chemosensory signaling along the accessory olfactory pathway are in many ways unique. Yet, it has also become evident that, like the main olfactory system, the accessory olfactory system also has the capacity for adaptive learning, experience, and state-dependent plasticity. In addition to describing what is currently known about accessory olfactory system function and physiology, we highlight what we believe are important gaps in our knowledge, which thus define exciting directions for future investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Mohrhardt
- Department of Chemosensation, Institute for Biology II, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Maximilian Nagel
- Department of Chemosensation, Institute for Biology II, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - David Fleck
- Department of Chemosensation, Institute for Biology II, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Yoram Ben-Shaul
- Department of Medical Neurobiology, School of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Marc Spehr
- Department of Chemosensation, Institute for Biology II, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
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24
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Bayless DW, Yang T, Mason MM, Susanto AAT, Lobdell A, Shah NM. Limbic Neurons Shape Sex Recognition and Social Behavior in Sexually Naive Males. Cell 2019; 176:1190-1205.e20. [PMID: 30712868 PMCID: PMC6453703 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2018.12.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2018] [Revised: 11/13/2018] [Accepted: 12/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Sexually naive animals have to distinguish between the sexes because they show species-typical interactions with males and females without meaningful prior experience. However, central neural pathways in naive mammals that recognize sex of other individuals remain poorly characterized. We examined the role of the principal component of the bed nucleus of stria terminalis (BNSTpr), a limbic center, in social interactions in mice. We find that activity of aromatase-expressing BNSTpr (AB) neurons appears to encode sex of other animals and subsequent displays of mating in sexually naive males. Silencing these neurons in males eliminates preference for female pheromones and abrogates mating success, whereas activating them even transiently promotes male-male mating. Surprisingly, female AB neurons do not appear to control sex recognition, mating, or maternal aggression. In summary, AB neurons represent sex of other animals and govern ensuing social behaviors in sexually naive males.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel W Bayless
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Taehong Yang
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Matthew M Mason
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Albert A T Susanto
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Alexandra Lobdell
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Nirao M Shah
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Neurobiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
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25
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Topper VY, Reilly MP, Wagner LM, Thompson LM, Gillette R, Crews D, Gore AC. Social and neuromolecular phenotypes are programmed by prenatal exposures to endocrine-disrupting chemicals. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2019; 479:133-146. [PMID: 30287398 PMCID: PMC6263824 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2018.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2018] [Revised: 08/25/2018] [Accepted: 09/28/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Exposures to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) affect the development of hormone-sensitive neural circuits, the proper organization of which are necessary for the manifestation of appropriate adult social and sexual behaviors. We examined whether prenatal exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), a family of ubiquitous industrial contaminants detectable in virtually all humans and wildlife, caused changes in sexually-dimorphic social interactions and communications, and profiled the underlying neuromolecular phenotype. Rats were treated with a PCB commercial mixture, Aroclor 1221 (A1221), estradiol benzoate (EB) as a positive control for estrogenic effects of A1221, or the vehicle (4% DMSO), on embryonic day (E) 16 and 18. In adult F1 offspring, we first conducted tests of ultrasonic vocalization (USV) calls in a sociosexual context as a measure of motivated communications. Numbers of certain USV call types were significantly increased by prenatal treatment with A1221 in males, and decreased by EB in females. In a test of sociosexual preference for a hormone-vs. a non-hormone-primed opposite sex conspecific, male (but not female) nose-touching with opposite-sex rats was significantly diminished by EDCs. Gene expression profiling was conducted in two brain regions that are part of the social decision-making network in the brain: the medial preoptic nucleus (MPN) and the ventromedial nucleus (VMN). In both regions, many more genes were affected by A1221 or EB in females than males. In female MPN, A1221 changed expression of steroid hormone receptor and neuropeptide genes (e.g., Ar, Esr1, Esr2, and Kiss1). In male MPN, only Per2 was affected by A1221. The VMN had a number of genes affected by EB compared to vehicle (females: Kiss1, Kiss1r, Pgr; males: Crh) but not A1221. These differences between EB and A1221 indicate that the mechanism of action of A1221 goes beyond estrogenic pathways. These data show sex-specific effects of prenatal PCBs on adult behaviors and the neuromolecular phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viktoria Y Topper
- The Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Michael P Reilly
- Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Lauren M Wagner
- Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Lindsay M Thompson
- Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Ross Gillette
- The Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - David Crews
- The Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA; Department of Integrative Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Andrea C Gore
- The Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA; Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA.
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26
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Pandolfi EC, Hoffmann HM, Schoeller EL, Gorman MR, Mellon PL. Haploinsufficiency of SIX3 Abolishes Male Reproductive Behavior Through Disrupted Olfactory Development, and Impairs Female Fertility Through Disrupted GnRH Neuron Migration. Mol Neurobiol 2018; 55:8709-8727. [PMID: 29589282 PMCID: PMC6156938 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-018-1013-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2017] [Accepted: 03/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Mating behavior in males and females is dependent on olfactory cues processed through both the main olfactory epithelium (MOE) and the vomeronasal organ (VNO). Signaling through the MOE is critical for the initiation of male mating behavior, and the loss of MOE signaling severely compromises this comportment. Here, we demonstrate that dosage of the homeodomain gene Six3 affects the degree of development of MOE but not the VNO. Anomalous MOE development in Six3 heterozygote mice leads to hyposmia, specifically disrupting male mounting behavior by impairing detection of volatile female estrus pheromones. Six3 is highly expressed in the MOE, main olfactory bulb (MOB), and hypothalamus; all regions essential in the proper migration of the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons, a key reproductive neuronal population that migrates along olfactory axons from the developing nose into the brain. Interestingly, we find that the reduction in Six3 expression in Six3 heterozygote mice compromises development of the MOE and MOB, resulting in mis-migration of GnRH neurons due to improper olfactory axon targeting. This reduction in the hypothalamic GnRH neuron population, by 45% in adulthood, leads to female subfertility, but does not impact male hormone levels, suggesting that male infertility is not related to GnRH neuron numbers, but exclusively linked to abnormal olfaction. We here determine that Six3 is haploinsufficient for MOE development, GnRH neuron migration, and fertility, and represents a novel candidate gene for Kallmann syndrome, a form of inherited infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erica C Pandolfi
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, Center for Reproductive Science and Medicine, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093-0674, USA
- Center for Circadian Biology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Hanne M Hoffmann
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, Center for Reproductive Science and Medicine, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093-0674, USA
- Center for Circadian Biology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Erica L Schoeller
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, Center for Reproductive Science and Medicine, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093-0674, USA
- Center for Circadian Biology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Michael R Gorman
- Center for Circadian Biology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Pamela L Mellon
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, Center for Reproductive Science and Medicine, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093-0674, USA.
- Center for Circadian Biology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.
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Ishii KK, Touhara K. Neural circuits regulating sexual behaviors via the olfactory system in mice. Neurosci Res 2018; 140:59-76. [PMID: 30389572 DOI: 10.1016/j.neures.2018.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2018] [Revised: 09/25/2018] [Accepted: 10/15/2018] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Reproduction is essential for any animal species. Reproductive behaviors, or sexual behaviors, are largely shaped by external sensory cues exchanged during sexual interaction. In many animals, including rodents, olfactory cues play a critical role in regulating sexual behavior. What exactly these olfactory cues are and how they impact animal behavior have been a central question in the field. Over the past few decades, many studies have dedicated to identifying an active compound that elicits sexual behavior from crude olfactory components. The identified substance has served as a tool to dissect the sensory processing mechanisms in the olfactory systems. In addition, recent advances in genetic engineering, and optics and microscopic techniques have greatly expanded our knowledge of the neural mechanisms underlying the control of sexual behavior in mice. This review summarizes our current knowledge about how sexual behaviors are controlled by olfactory cues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kentaro K Ishii
- Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan; ERATO Touhara Chemosensory Signal Project, JST, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
| | - Kazushige Touhara
- Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan; ERATO Touhara Chemosensory Signal Project, JST, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan.
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Kikusui T, Kajita M, Otsuka N, Hattori T, Kumazawa K, Watarai A, Nagasawa M, Inutsuka A, Yamanaka A, Matsuo N, Covington HE, Mogi K. Sex differences in olfactory-induced neural activation of the amygdala. Behav Brain Res 2018; 346:96-104. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2017.11.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2017] [Revised: 11/21/2017] [Accepted: 11/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
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Yohe LR, Hoffmann S, Curtis A. Vomeronasal and Olfactory Structures in Bats Revealed by DiceCT Clarify Genetic Evidence of Function. Front Neuroanat 2018; 12:32. [PMID: 29867373 PMCID: PMC5953337 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2018.00032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2018] [Accepted: 04/11/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The degree to which molecular and morphological loss of function occurs synchronously during the vestigialization of traits is not well understood. The mammalian vomeronasal system, a sense critical for mediating many social and reproductive behaviors, is highly conserved across mammals. New World Leaf-nosed bats (Phyllostomidae) are under strong selection to maintain a functional vomeronasal system such that most phyllostomids possess a distinct vomeronasal organ and an intact TRPC2, a gene encoding a protein primarily involved in vomeronasal sensory neuron signal transduction. Recent genetic evidence, however, shows that TRPC2 is a pseudogene in some Caribbean nectarivorous phyllostomids. The loss-of-function mutations suggest the sensory neural tissue of the vomeronasal organ is absent in these species despite strong selection on this gene in its mainland relatives, but the anatomy was unknown in most Caribbean nectarivorous phyllostomids until this study. We used diffusible iodine-based contrast-enhanced computed tomography (diceCT) to test whether the vomeronasal and main olfactory anatomy of several phyllostomid species matched genetic evidence of function, providing insight into whether loss of a structure is linked to pseudogenization of a molecular component of the system. The vomeronasal organ is indeed rudimentary or absent in species with a disrupted TRPC2 gene. Caribbean nectar-feeders also exhibit derived olfactory turbinal morphology and a large olfactory recess that differs from closely related bats that have an intact vomeronasal organ, which may hint that the main olfactory system may compensate for loss. We emphasize non-invasive diceCT is capable of detecting the vomeronasal organ, providing a feasible approach for quantifying mammalian chemosensory anatomy across species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurel R Yohe
- Department of Ecology & Evolution, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, United States
| | - Simone Hoffmann
- Department of Anatomy, New York Institute of Technology, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Old Westbury, NY, United States
| | - Abigail Curtis
- Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
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Fujiwara M, Chiba A. Sexual odor preference and dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens by estrous olfactory cues in sexually naïve and experienced male rats. Physiol Behav 2017; 185:95-102. [PMID: 29289614 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2017.12.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2017] [Revised: 12/22/2017] [Accepted: 12/22/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Sexual behavior is a natural reward that activates mesolimbic dopaminergic system. Microdialysis studies have shown that extracellular level of dopamine (DA) in the nucleus accumbens (NAcc) significantly increases during copulation in male rats. The NAcc DA level is also known to be increased during the presentation of a sexually receptive female before mating. This rise in DA was probably associated with sexual motivation elicited by incentive stimuli from the receptive female. These microdialysis studies, however, did not thoroughly investigated if olfactory stimuli from estrous females could significantly increase the extracellular DA in the NAcc of male rats. The present study was designed to examine systematically the relationship between the expression of preference for the olfactory stimuli from estrous females and the effects of these stimuli on the extracellular DA levels in the NAcc measured by in vivo microdialysis in male Long-Evans (LE) rats. We used two types of olfactory stimuli, either airborne odors (volatile stimuli) or soiled bedding (volatile plus nonvolatile stimuli). The sexually experienced male rats, which experienced six ejaculations, significantly preferred both of these olfactory stimuli from estrous females as opposed to males. Exposure to these female olfactory stimuli gradually increased extracellular DA in the NAcc, which reached significantly higher level above baseline during the period following the removal of the stimuli although not during the 15-min stimulus presentation period. The sexually naïve male rats, on the other hand, showed neither preference for olfactory stimuli from estrous females nor increase in the NAcc DA after exposure to these stimuli. These data suggest that in male LE rats olfactory stimuli from estrous females in and of themselves can be conditional cues that induce both incentive motivation and a significant increase in the NAcc DA probably as a result of being associated with sexual reward through copulatory experience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masaya Fujiwara
- Department of Materials and Life Sciences, Sophia University, Tokyo 102-8554, Japan.
| | - Atsuhiko Chiba
- Department of Materials and Life Sciences, Sophia University, Tokyo 102-8554, Japan.
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Experience-Dependent Plasticity in Accessory Olfactory Bulb Interneurons following Male-Male Social Interaction. J Neurosci 2017; 37:7240-7252. [PMID: 28659282 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1031-17.2017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2017] [Revised: 06/01/2017] [Accepted: 06/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Chemosensory information processing in the mouse accessory olfactory system guides the expression of social behavior. After salient chemosensory encounters, the accessory olfactory bulb (AOB) experiences changes in the balance of excitation and inhibition at reciprocal synapses between mitral cells (MCs) and local interneurons. The mechanisms underlying these changes remain controversial. Moreover, it remains unclear whether MC-interneuron plasticity is unique to specific behaviors, such as mating, or whether it is a more general feature of the AOB circuit. Here, we describe targeted electrophysiological studies of AOB inhibitory internal granule cells (IGCs), many of which upregulate the immediate-early gene Arc after male-male social experience. Following the resident-intruder paradigm, Arc-expressing IGCs in acute AOB slices from resident males displayed stronger excitation than nonexpressing neighbors when sensory inputs were stimulated. The increased excitability of Arc-expressing IGCs was not correlated with changes in the strength or number of excitatory synapses with MCs but was instead associated with increased intrinsic excitability and decreased HCN channel-mediated IH currents. Consistent with increased inhibition by IGCs, MCs responded to sensory input stimulation with decreased depolarization and spiking following resident-intruder encounters. These results reveal that nonmating behaviors drive AOB inhibitory plasticity and indicate that increased MC inhibition involves intrinsic excitability changes in Arc-expressing interneurons.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The accessory olfactory bulb (AOB) is a site of experience-dependent plasticity between excitatory mitral cells (MCs) and inhibitory internal granule cells (IGCs), but the physiological mechanisms and behavioral conditions driving this plasticity remain unclear. Here, we report studies of AOB neuronal plasticity following male-male social chemosensory encounters. We show that the plasticity-associated immediate-early gene Arc is selectively expressed in IGCs from resident males following the resident-intruder assay. After behavior, Arc-expressing IGCs are more strongly excited by sensory input stimulation and MC activation is suppressed. Arc-expressing IGCs do not show increased excitatory synaptic drive but instead show increased intrinsic excitability. These data indicate that MC-IGC plasticity is induced after male-male social chemosensory encounters, resulting in enhanced MC suppression by Arc-expressing IGCs.
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Optogenetic Activation of Accessory Olfactory Bulb Input to the Forebrain Differentially Modulates Investigation of Opposite versus Same-Sex Urinary Chemosignals and Stimulates Mating in Male Mice. eNeuro 2017; 4:eN-NWR-0010-17. [PMID: 28374006 PMCID: PMC5362934 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0010-17.2017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2017] [Revised: 03/03/2017] [Accepted: 03/07/2017] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Surgical or genetic disruption of vomeronasal organ (VNO)-accessory olfactory bulb (AOB) function previously eliminated the ability of male mice to processes pheromones that elicit territorial behavior and aggression. By contrast, neither disruption significantly affected mating behaviors, although VNO lesions reduced males' investigation of nonvolatile female pheromones. We explored the contribution of VNO-AOB pheromonal processing to male courtship using optogenetic activation of AOB projections to the forebrain. Protocadherin-Cre male transgenic mice received bilateral AOB infections with channelrhodopsin2 (ChR2) viral vectors, and an optical fiber was implanted above the AOB. In olfactory choice tests, males preferred estrous female urine (EFU) over water; however, this preference was eliminated when diluted (5%) EFU was substituted for 100% EFU. Optogenetic AOB activation concurrent with nasal contact significantly augmented males' investigation compared to 5% EFU alone. Conversely, concurrent optogenetic AOB activation significantly reduced males' nasal investigation of diluted urine from gonadally intact males (5% IMU) compared to 5% IMU alone. These divergent effects of AOB optogenetic activation were lost when males were prevented from making direct nasal contact. Optogenetic AOB stimulation also failed to augment males' nasal investigation of deionized water or of food odors. Finally, during mating tests, optogenetic AOB stimulation delivered for 30 s when the male was in physical contact with an estrous female significantly facilitated the occurrence of penile intromission. Our results suggest that VNO-AOB signaling differentially modifies males' motivation to seek out female vs male urinary pheromones while augmenting males' sexual arousal leading to intromission and improved reproductive performance.
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McCarthy EA, Kunkhyen T, Korzan WJ, Naik A, Maqsudlu A, Cherry JA, Baum MJ. A comparison of the effects of male pheromone priming and optogenetic inhibition of accessory olfactory bulb forebrain inputs on the sexual behavior of estrous female mice. Horm Behav 2017; 89:104-112. [PMID: 28065711 PMCID: PMC5359026 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2016.12.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2016] [Revised: 12/07/2016] [Accepted: 12/20/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Previous research has shown that repeated testing with a stimulus male is required for ovariectomized, hormone-primed female mice to become sexually receptive (show maximal lordosis quotients; LQs) and that drug-induced, epigenetic enhancement of estradiol receptor function accelerated the improvement in LQs otherwise shown by estrous females with repeated testing. We asked whether pre-exposure to male pheromones ('pheromone priming') would also accelerate the improvement in LQs with repeated tests and whether optogenetic inhibition of accessory olfactory bulb (AOB) projection neurons could inhibit lordosis in sexually experienced estrous female mice. In Experiment 1, repeated priming with soiled male bedding failed to accelerate the progressive improvement in LQs shown by estrous female mice across 5 tests, although the duration of each lordosis response and females' investigation of male body parts during the first test was augmented by such priming. In Experiment 2, acute optogenetic inhibition of AOB inputs to the forebrain during freely moving behavioral tests significantly reduced LQs, suggesting that continued AOB signaling to the forebrain during mating is required for maximal lordotic responsiveness even in sexually experienced females. Our results also suggest that pheromonal stimulation, by itself, cannot substitute for the full complement of sensory stimulation received by estrous females from mounting males that normally leads to the progressive improvement in their LQs with repeated testing.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tenzin Kunkhyen
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, United States
| | - Wayne J Korzan
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, United States
| | - Ajay Naik
- Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, United States
| | - Arman Maqsudlu
- Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, United States
| | - James A Cherry
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, United States
| | - Michael J Baum
- Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, United States
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Abstract
Social signals are identified through processing in sensory systems to trigger appropriate behavioral responses. Social signals are received primarily in most mammals through the olfactory system. Individuals are recognized based on their unique blend of odorants. Such individual recognition is critical to distinguish familiar conspecifics from intruders and to recognize offspring. Social signals can also trigger stereotyped responses like mating behaviors. Specific sensory pathways for individual recognition and eliciting stereotyped responses have been identified both in the early olfactory system and its connected cortices. Oxytocin is emerging as a major state modulator of sensory processing with distinct functions in early and higher olfactory brain regions. The brain state induced through Oxytocin influences social perception. Oxytocin acting on different brain regions can promote either exploration and recognition towards same- or other-sex conspecifics, or association learning. Region-specific deletion of Oxytocin receptors suffices to disrupt these behaviors. Together, these recent insights highlight that Oxytocin's function in social behaviors cannot be understood without considering its actions on sensory processing.
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Westberry JM, Meredith M. Characteristic Response to Chemosensory Signals in GABAergic Cells of Medial Amygdala Is Not Driven by Main Olfactory Input. Chem Senses 2017; 42:13-24. [PMID: 27651427 PMCID: PMC5155562 DOI: 10.1093/chemse/bjw096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Chemosensory stimuli from same species (conspecific) and different species (heterospecific) elicit categorically different immediate-early gene (IEG) response patterns in medial amygdala in male hamsters and mice. All heterospecific stimuli activate anterior medial amygdala (MeA) but only especially salient heterospecific stimuli, such as those from predators activate posterior medial amygdala (MeP). We previously reported that characteristic patterns of response in separate populations of cells in MeA and MeP distinguish between different conspecific stimuli. Both gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA)-immunoreactive (ir) cells and GABA-receptor-ir cells make this distinction. Here, using zinc sulfate lesions of the main olfactory epithelium, we show evidence that main olfactory input does not contribute to the characteristic patterns of response in GABA-ir cells of male hamster amygdala, either for conspecific or heterospecific stimuli. Some GABAergic cells are output neurons carrying information from medial amygdala to behavioral executive regions of basal forebrain. Thus, the differential response to different conspecific signals can lead to differential activation of downstream circuits based on nonolfactory input. Finally, we show that an intact vomeronasal organ is necessary and sufficient to produce the characteristic patterns of response to conspecific and heterospecific chemosensory stimuli in hamster medial amygdala. Although main olfactory input may be critical in species with less prominent vomeronasal input for equivalent medial amygdala responses, work presented here suggests that hamster medial amygdala uses primarily vomeronasal input to discriminate between important unlearned conspecific social signals, to distinguish them from the social signals of other species, and may convey that information to brain circuits eliciting appropriate social behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenne M Westberry
- Present address: Department of Biology, University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, MN 555105, USA
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Beny Y, Kimchi T. Conditioned odor aversion induces social anxiety towards females in wild-type and TrpC2 knockout male mice. GENES BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR 2016; 15:722-732. [PMID: 27535696 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2016] [Revised: 08/14/2016] [Accepted: 08/15/2016] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Female-emitted pheromonal inputs possess an intrinsic rewarding value for conspecific males, promoting approach and investigation of the potential mating partner. In mice these inputs are detected mainly by the vomeronasal organ (VNO) and the main olfactory epithelium (MOE). We investigated the role of VNO-mediated inputs in experience-dependent plasticity of reproductive responses. We applied a sex-specific conditioned odor aversion (COA) paradigm on adult, wild-type (WT) male mice and on male mice impaired in VNO-mediated signal transduction (TrpC2-/- ). We found that WT males, which underwent COA to female-soiled bedding, lost their innate preference to female odors and presented lower motivation to approach a sexually receptive female. COA also abolished the testosterone surge normally seen following exposure to female odors. Moreover, the conditioned males displayed impairments in copulatory behaviors, which lasted for several weeks. Surprisingly, these males also exhibited phobic behaviors towards receptive females, including freezing and fleeing responses. In contrast, WT males which underwent COA specifically to male pheromones showed no change in olfactory preference and only a marginally significant elevation in intermale aggression. Finally, we show that TrpC2-/- males were able to acquire aversion to female-soiled bedding and presented similar behavioral alterations following COA in their responses to female cues. Our results demonstrate that the intrinsic rewarding value of female pheromones can be overridden through associative olfactory learning, which occurs independently of VNO inputs, probably through MOE signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Beny
- Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - T Kimchi
- Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
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Development of the main olfactory system and main olfactory epithelium-dependent male mating behavior are altered in Go-deficient mice. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2016; 113:10974-9. [PMID: 27625425 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1613026113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
In mammals, initial detection of olfactory stimuli is mediated by sensory neurons in the main olfactory epithelium (MOE) and the vomeronasal organ (VNO). The heterotrimeric GTP-binding protein Go is widely expressed in the MOE and VNO of mice. Early studies indicated that Go expression in VNO sensory neurons is critical for directing social and sexual behaviors in female mice [Oboti L, et al. (2014) BMC Biol 12:31]. However, the physiological functions of Go in the MOE have remained poorly defined. Here, we examined the role of Go in the MOE using mice lacking the α subunit of Go Development of the olfactory bulb (OB) was perturbed in mutant mice as a result of reduced neurogenesis and increased cell death. The balance between cell types of OB interneurons was altered in mutant mice, with an increase in the number of tyrosine hydroxylase-positive interneurons at the expense of calbindin-positive interneurons. Sexual behavior toward female mice and preference for female urine odors by olfactory sensory neurons in the MOE were abolished in mutant male mice. Our data suggest that Go signaling is essential for the structural and functional integrity of the MOE and for specification of OB interneurons, which in turn are required for the transmission of pheromone signals and the initiation of mating behavior with the opposite sex.
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Golder ZJ, Karet Frankl FE. Extra-renal locations of the a4 subunit of H(+)ATPase. BMC Cell Biol 2016; 17:27. [PMID: 27368196 PMCID: PMC4930620 DOI: 10.1186/s12860-016-0106-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2016] [Accepted: 06/27/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Vacuolar-type proton pumps help maintain acid-base homeostasis either within intracellular compartments or at specialised plasma membranes. In mammals they are made up of 13 subunits, which form two functional domains. A number of the subunits have variants that display tissue restricted expression patterns such that in specialised cell types they replace the generic subunits at some sub-cellular locations. The tissue restricted a4 subunit has previously been reported at the plasma membrane in the kidney, inner ear, olfactory epithelium and male reproductive tract. RESULTS In this study novel locations of the a4 subunit were investigated using an Atp6v0a4 knockout mouse line in which a LacZ reporter cassette replaced part of the gene. The presence of a4 in the olfactory epithelium was further investigated and the additional presence of C2 and d2 subunits identified. The a4 subunit was found in the uterus of pregnant animals and a4 was identified along with d2 and C2 in the embryonic visceral yolk sac. In the male reproductive tract a4 was seen in the novel locations of the prostatic alveoli and the ampullary glands as well as the previously reported epididymis and vas deferens. CONCLUSIONS The identification of novel locations for the a4 subunit and other tissue-restricted subunits increases the range of unique subunit combinations making up the proton pump. These studies suggest additional roles of the proton pump, indicating a further range of homologue-specific functions for tissue-restricted subunits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zoe J Golder
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.,Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, Cambridge Biomedical Campus Box 139, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 OXY, UK
| | - Fiona E Karet Frankl
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK. .,Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, Cambridge Biomedical Campus Box 139, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 OXY, UK.
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Alkelai A, Olender T, Haffner-Krausz R, Tsoory MM, Boyko V, Tatarskyy P, Gross-Isseroff R, Milgrom R, Shushan S, Blau I, Cohn E, Beeri R, Levy-Lahad E, Pras E, Lancet D. A role for TENM1 mutations in congenital general anosmia. Clin Genet 2016; 90:211-9. [PMID: 27040985 DOI: 10.1111/cge.12782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2015] [Revised: 03/26/2016] [Accepted: 03/27/2016] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Congenital general anosmia (CGA) is a neurological disorder entailing a complete innate inability to sense odors. While the mechanisms underlying vertebrate olfaction have been studied in detail, there are still gaps in our understanding of the molecular genetic basis of innate olfactory disorders. Applying whole-exome sequencing to a family multiply affected with CGA, we identified three members with a rare X-linked missense mutation in the TENM1 (teneurin 1) gene (ENST00000422452:c.C4829T). In Drosophila melanogaster, TENM1 functions in synaptic-partner-matching between axons of olfactory sensory neurons and target projection neurons and is involved in synapse organization in the olfactory system. We used CRISPR-Cas9 system to generate a Tenm1 disrupted mouse model. Tenm1(-/-) and point-mutated Tenm1(A) (/A) adult mice were shown to have an altered ability to locate a buried food pellet. Tenm1(A) (/A) mice also displayed an altered ability to sense aversive odors. Results of our study, that describes a new Tenm1 mouse, agree with the hypothesis that TENM1 has a role in olfaction. However, additional studies should be done in larger CGA cohorts, to provide statistical evidence that loss-of-function mutations in TENM1 can solely cause the disease in our and other CGA cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Alkelai
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - T Olender
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - R Haffner-Krausz
- Department of Veterinary Resources, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - M M Tsoory
- Department of Veterinary Resources, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - V Boyko
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - P Tatarskyy
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - R Gross-Isseroff
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - R Milgrom
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - S Shushan
- Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.,Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Edith Wolfson Medical Center, Holon, Israel
| | - I Blau
- Department of Otolaryngology, Meir Medical Center, Kfar Saba, Israel
| | - E Cohn
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - R Beeri
- Medical Genetics Institute, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - E Levy-Lahad
- Department of Otolaryngology, Meir Medical Center, Kfar Saba, Israel
| | - E Pras
- The Danek Gertner Institute of Human Genetics, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel.,The Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - D Lancet
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
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Kahan A, Ben-Shaul Y. Extracting Behaviorally Relevant Traits from Natural Stimuli: Benefits of Combinatorial Representations at the Accessory Olfactory Bulb. PLoS Comput Biol 2016; 12:e1004798. [PMID: 26938460 PMCID: PMC4777510 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1004798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2015] [Accepted: 02/08/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
For many animals, chemosensation is essential for guiding social behavior. However, because multiple factors can modulate levels of individual chemical cues, deriving information about other individuals via natural chemical stimuli involves considerable challenges. How social information is extracted despite these sources of variability is poorly understood. The vomeronasal system provides an excellent opportunity to study this topic due to its role in detecting socially relevant traits. Here, we focus on two such traits: a female mouse’s strain and reproductive state. In particular, we measure stimulus-induced neuronal activity in the accessory olfactory bulb (AOB) in response to various dilutions of urine, vaginal secretions, and saliva, from estrus and non-estrus female mice from two different strains. We first show that all tested secretions provide information about a female’s receptivity and genotype. Next, we investigate how these traits can be decoded from neuronal activity despite multiple sources of variability. We show that individual neurons are limited in their capacity to allow trait classification across multiple sources of variability. However, simple linear classifiers sampling neuronal activity from small neuronal ensembles can provide a substantial improvement over that attained with individual units. Furthermore, we show that some traits are more efficiently detected than others, and that particular secretions may be optimized for conveying information about specific traits. Across all tested stimulus sources, discrimination between strains is more accurate than discrimination of receptivity, and detection of receptivity is more accurate with vaginal secretions than with urine. Our findings highlight the challenges of chemosensory processing of natural stimuli, and suggest that downstream readout stages decode multiple behaviorally relevant traits by sampling information from distinct but overlapping populations of AOB neurons. Across the animal kingdom, chemical senses play a central role in guiding social behaviors by conveying information about particular behaviorally relevant traits. However, decoding these traits from profiles of chemical cues is challenging since cue levels are modulated by multiple factors. Here, we investigate how the mouse vomeronasal system, a chemosensory system important for processing social information, detects behaviorally relevant traits from natural stimuli. We focus on detection of a female’s genetic background (a model for individuality) and estrus-state (a measure of sexual receptivity) by neurons in the first vomeronasal brain relay, the accessory olfactory bulb (AOB). We show that information about both genetic background and receptivity can be obtained from various stimulus sources: urine, vaginal secretions, and saliva. Importantly, while individual AOB neurons can only provide limited decoding ability of these traits, simple networks sampling AOB neuronal ensembles provide considerable improvement. Our analyses highlight an overlooked challenge associated with chemosensory processing and suggest how it can be overcome by downstream neurons that read information from multiple AOB neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anat Kahan
- Department of Medical Neurobiology, Hebrew University Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Yoram Ben-Shaul
- Department of Medical Neurobiology, Hebrew University Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel
- * E-mail:
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Bastakis GG, Savvaki M, Stamatakis A, Vidaki M, Karagogeos D. Tag1 deficiency results in olfactory dysfunction through impaired migration of mitral cells. Development 2015; 142:4318-28. [PMID: 26525675 DOI: 10.1242/dev.123943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2015] [Accepted: 10/22/2015] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The olfactory system provides mammals with the abilities to investigate, communicate and interact with their environment. These functions are achieved through a finely organized circuit starting from the nasal cavity, passing through the olfactory bulb and ending in various cortical areas. We show that the absence of transient axonal glycoprotein-1 (Tag1)/contactin-2 (Cntn2) in mice results in a significant and selective defect in the number of the main projection neurons in the olfactory bulb, namely the mitral cells. A subpopulation of these projection neurons is reduced in Tag1-deficient mice as a result of impaired migration. We demonstrate that the detected alterations in the number of mitral cells are well correlated with diminished odor discrimination ability and social long-term memory formation. Reduced neuronal activation in the olfactory bulb and the corresponding olfactory cortex suggest that Tag1 is crucial for the olfactory circuit formation in mice. Our results underpin the significance of a numerical defect in the mitral cell layer in the processing and integration of odorant information and subsequently in animal behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- George G Bastakis
- Department of Basic Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete and Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology-FoRTH, Vassilika Vouton, Heraklion, Crete 71110, Greece
| | - Maria Savvaki
- Department of Basic Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete and Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology-FoRTH, Vassilika Vouton, Heraklion, Crete 71110, Greece
| | - Antonis Stamatakis
- Laboratory of Biology, Faculty of Nursing, School of Health Sciences, University of Athens, Papadiamantopoulou 123, Athens GR11527, Greece
| | - Marina Vidaki
- Department of Basic Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete and Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology-FoRTH, Vassilika Vouton, Heraklion, Crete 71110, Greece
| | - Domna Karagogeos
- Department of Basic Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete and Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology-FoRTH, Vassilika Vouton, Heraklion, Crete 71110, Greece
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Miranda R, Nagapin F, Bozon B, Laroche S, Aubin T, Vaillend C. Altered social behavior and ultrasonic communication in the dystrophin-deficient mdx mouse model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Mol Autism 2015; 6:60. [PMID: 26527530 PMCID: PMC4627616 DOI: 10.1186/s13229-015-0053-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2015] [Accepted: 10/22/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophies (DMD, BMD) show significant comorbid diagnosis for autism, and the genomic sequences encoding the proteins responsible for these diseases, the dystrophin and associated proteins, have been proposed as new candidate risk loci for autism. Dystrophin is expressed not only in muscles but also in central inhibitory synapses in the cerebellum, hippocampus, amygdala, and cerebral cortex, where it contributes to the organization of autism-associated trans-synaptic neurexin-neuroligin complexes and to the clustering of synaptic gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)A receptors. While brain defects due to dystrophin loss are associated with deficits in cognitive and executive functions, communication skills and social behavior, only a subpopulation of DMD patients meet the criteria for autism, suggesting that mutations in the dystrophin gene may confer a vulnerability to autism. The loss of dystrophin in the mdx mouse model of DMD has been associated with cognitive and emotional alterations, but social behavior and communication abilities have never been studied in this model. METHODS Here, we carried out the first in-depth analysis of social behavior and ultrasonic communication in dystrophin-deficient mdx mice, using a range of socially relevant paradigms involving various degrees of executive and cognitive demands, from simple presentation of sexual olfactory stimuli to social choice situations and direct encounters with female and male mice of various genotypes. RESULTS We identified context-specific alterations in social behavior and ultrasonic vocal communication in mdx mice during direct encounters in novel environments. Social behavior disturbances depended on intruders' genotype and behavior, suggesting alterations in executive functions and adaptive behaviors, and were associated with selective alterations of the development, rate, acoustic properties, and use of the ultrasonic vocal repertoire. CONCLUSIONS This first evidence that a mutation impeding expression of brain dystrophin affects social behavior and communication sheds new light on critical cognitive, emotional, and conative factors contributing to the development of autistic-like traits in this disease model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rubén Miranda
- CNRS, Neuroscience Paris Saclay Institute, UMR 9197, Orsay, 91405 France ; Univ Paris-Sud, UMR 9197, Orsay, 91405 France ; Present address: Department of Psychobiology, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Flora Nagapin
- CNRS, Neuroscience Paris Saclay Institute, UMR 9197, Orsay, 91405 France ; Univ Paris-Sud, UMR 9197, Orsay, 91405 France
| | - Bruno Bozon
- CNRS, Neuroscience Paris Saclay Institute, UMR 9197, Orsay, 91405 France ; Univ Paris-Sud, UMR 9197, Orsay, 91405 France
| | - Serge Laroche
- CNRS, Neuroscience Paris Saclay Institute, UMR 9197, Orsay, 91405 France ; Univ Paris-Sud, UMR 9197, Orsay, 91405 France
| | - Thierry Aubin
- CNRS, Neuroscience Paris Saclay Institute, UMR 9197, Orsay, 91405 France ; Univ Paris-Sud, UMR 9197, Orsay, 91405 France
| | - Cyrille Vaillend
- CNRS, Neuroscience Paris Saclay Institute, UMR 9197, Orsay, 91405 France ; Univ Paris-Sud, UMR 9197, Orsay, 91405 France
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Fu X, Yan Y, Xu PS, Geerlof-Vidavsky I, Chong W, Gross ML, Holy TE. A Molecular Code for Identity in the Vomeronasal System. Cell 2015; 163:313-23. [PMID: 26435105 PMCID: PMC4642884 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2015.09.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2015] [Revised: 07/30/2015] [Accepted: 08/06/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
In social interactions among mammals, individuals are recognized by olfactory cues, but identifying the key signals among thousands of compounds remains a major challenge. To address this need, we developed a new technique, component-activity matching (CAM), to select candidate ligands that "explain" patterns of bioactivity across diverse complex mixtures. Using mouse urine from eight different sexes and strains, we identified 23 components to explain firing rates in seven of eight functional classes of vomeronasal sensory neurons. Focusing on a class of neurons selective for females, we identified a novel family of vomeronasal ligands, steroid carboxylic acids. These ligands accounted for much of the neuronal activity of urine from some female strains, were necessary for normal levels of male investigatory behavior of female scents, and were sufficient to trigger mounting behavior. CAM represents the first step toward an exhaustive characterization of the molecular cues for natural behavior in a mammalian olfactory system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyan Fu
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Yuetian Yan
- Department of Chemistry, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Pei S Xu
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Ilan Geerlof-Vidavsky
- Department of Chemistry, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Wongi Chong
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Michael L Gross
- Department of Chemistry, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Timothy E Holy
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
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Comparative study of perception and processing of socially or sexually significant odor information in male rats with normal or accelerated senescence using fMRI. Behav Brain Res 2015; 294:89-94. [PMID: 26248295 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2015.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2015] [Revised: 07/30/2015] [Accepted: 08/01/2015] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Olfaction plays an important role in mammals while aging causes olfactory dysfunction. Here the features of olfactory function in aging male rats were studied. We compared brain activity of regions involved in the perception (olfactory bulbs) and processing (cerebral cortex, hippocampus, hypothalamus) of sexually or socially significant odor stimulus with 11.7 T MR-scanner and odor perception using behavioral tests in 5-month old males with normal (Wistar rats) or accelerated senescence (d-galactose-treated Wistar rats (150 mg/kg/day, i.p., 12 weeks) or OXYS rats with hereditary defined accelerated aging). d-galactose-treated Wistar males had altered BOLD-response in the centers processing socially significant odor information and changed patterns of the functional connectivity. We detected no significant changes in the olfactory function of OXYS males probably due to compensatory processes. In saline-treated Wistar rats, the correlation of BOLD-responses to both types of stimuli in the olfactory bulbs and cerebral cortex indicated changes in odor differentiation. Behavioral tests showed no significant differences between groups. However, the time of odor exploration increased in d-galactose-treated males indicating changes in odor recognition. Thus, we first revealed that in animal model of pharmacologically induced aging olfactory dysfunction occurred at the level of the centers processing socially significant odor information while the centers of odor perception (olfactory bulbs) remained unaffected. Alterations observed in Wistar rats chronically treated with saline evidenced the influence of long-term manipulations with experimental animals on olfactory function per se.
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Yu CR. TRICK or TRP? What Trpc2(-/-) mice tell us about vomeronasal organ mediated innate behaviors. Front Neurosci 2015; 9:221. [PMID: 26157356 PMCID: PMC4477137 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2015.00221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2015] [Accepted: 06/02/2015] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The vomeronasal organ (VNO) plays an important role in mediating semiochemical communications and social behaviors in terrestrial species. Genetic knockout of individual components in the signaling pathways has been used to probe vomeronasal functions, and has provided much insights into how the VNO orchestrates innate behaviors. However, all data do not agree. In particular, knocking out Trpc2, a member of the TRP family of non-selective cationic channel thought to be the main transduction channel in the VNO, results in a number of fascinating behavioral phenotypes that have not been observed in other animals whose vomeronasal function is disrupted. Recent studies have identified signaling pathways that operate in parallel of Trpc2, raising the possibility that Trpc2 mutant animals may display neomorphic behaviors. In this article, I provide a critical analysis of emerging evidence to reconcile the discrepancies and discuss their implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Ron Yu
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research Kansas City, MO, USA ; Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center Kansas City, KS, USA
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An endocannabinoid system is present in the mouse olfactory epithelium but does not modulate olfaction. Neuroscience 2015; 300:539-53. [PMID: 26037800 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2015.05.056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2015] [Revised: 04/21/2015] [Accepted: 05/23/2015] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Endocannabinoids modulate a diverse array of functions including progenitor cell proliferation in the central nervous system, and odorant detection and food intake in the mammalian central olfactory system and larval Xenopus laevis peripheral olfactory system. However, the presence and role of endocannabinoids in the peripheral olfactory epithelium have not been examined in mammals. We found the presence of cannabinoid type 1 (CB1) and cannabinoid type 2 (CB2) receptor protein and mRNA in the olfactory epithelium. Using either immunohistochemistry or calcium imaging we localized CB1 receptors on neurons, glia-like sustentacular cells, microvillous cells and progenitor-like basal cells. To examine the role of endocannabinoids, CB1- and CB2- receptor-deficient (CB1(-/-)/CB2(-/-)) mice were used. The endocannabinoid 2-arachidonylglycerol (2-AG) was present at high levels in both C57BL/6 wildtype and CB1(-/-)/CB2(-/-) mice. 2-AG synthetic and degradative enzymes are expressed in wildtype mice. A small but significant decrease in basal cell and olfactory sensory neuron numbers was observed in CB1(-/-)/CB2(-/-) mice compared to wildtype mice. The decrease in olfactory sensory neurons did not translate to impairment in olfactory-mediated behaviors assessed by the buried food test and habituation/dishabituation test. Collectively, these data indicate the presence of an endocannabinoid system in the mouse olfactory epithelium. However, unlike in tadpoles, endocannabinoids do not modulate olfaction. Further investigation on the role of endocannabinoids in progenitor cell function in the olfactory epithelium is warranted.
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Abstract
The mouse vomeronasal organ (VNO) plays a critical role in semiochemical detection and social communication. Vomeronasal stimuli are typically secreted in various body fluids. Following direct contact with urine deposits or other secretions, a peristaltic vascular pump mediates fluid entry into the recipient's VNO. Therefore, while vomeronasal sensory neurons (VSNs) sample various stimulatory semiochemicals dissolved in the intraluminal mucus, they might also be affected by the general physicochemical properties of the "solvent." Here, we report cycle stage-correlated variations in urinary pH among female mice. Estrus-specific pH decline is observed exclusively in urine samples from sexually experienced females. Moreover, patch-clamp recordings in acute VNO slices reveal that mouse VSNs reliably detect extracellular acidosis. Acid-evoked responses share the biophysical and pharmacological hallmarks of the hyperpolarization-activated current Ih. Mechanistically, VSN acid sensitivity depends on a pH-induced shift in the voltage-dependence of Ih activation that causes the opening of HCN channels at rest, thereby increasing VSN excitability. Together, our results identify extracellular acidification as a potent activator of vomeronasal Ih and suggest HCN channel-dependent vomeronasal gain control of social chemosignaling. Our data thus reveal a potential mechanistic basis for stimulus pH detection in rodent chemosensory communication.
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Brain serotonin signaling does not determine sexual preference in male mice. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0118603. [PMID: 25706994 PMCID: PMC4338231 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0118603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2014] [Accepted: 12/15/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
It was reported recently that male mice lacking brain serotonin (5-HT) lose their preference for females (Liu et al., 2011, Nature, 472, 95–100), suggesting a role for 5-HT signaling in sexual preference. Regulation of sex preference by 5-HT lies outside of the well established roles in this behavior established for the vomeronasal organ (VNO) and the main olfactory epithelium (MOE). Presently, mice with a null mutation in the gene for tryptophan hydroxylase 2 (TPH2), which are depleted of brain 5-HT, were tested for sexual preference. When presented with inanimate (urine scents from male or estrous female) or animate (male or female mouse in estrus) sexual stimuli, TPH2-/- males show a clear preference for female over male stimuli. When a TPH2-/- male is offered the simultaneous choice between an estrous female and a male mouse, no sexual preference is expressed. However, when confounding behaviors that are seen among 3 mice in the same cage are controlled, TPH2-/- mice, like their TPH2+/+ counterparts, express a clear preference for female mice. Female TPH2-/- mice are preferred by males over TPH2+/+ females but this does not lead to increased pregnancy success. In fact, if one or both partners in a mating pair are TPH2-/- in genotype, pregnancy success rates are significantly decreased. Finally, expression of the VNO-specific cation channel TRPC2 and of CNGA2 in the MOE of TPH2-/- mice is normal, consistent with behavioral findings that sexual preference of TPH2-/- males for females is intact. In conclusion, 5-HT signaling in brain does not determine sexual preference in male mice. The use of pharmacological agents that are non-selective for the 5-HT neuronal system and that have serious adverse effects may have contributed historically to the stance that 5-HT regulates sexual behavior, including sex partner preference.
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Liu Y, Zhang J, Liu D, Zhang J. Vomeronasal organ lesion disrupts social odor recognition, behaviors and fitness in golden hamsters. Integr Zool 2015; 9:255-64. [PMID: 24952966 DOI: 10.1111/1749-4877.12057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Most studies support the viewpoint that the vomeronasal organ has a profound effect on conspecific odor recognition, scent marking and mating behavior in the golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus). However, the role of the vomeronasal organ in social odor recognition, social interaction and fitness is not well understood. Therefore, we conducted a series of behavioral and physiological tests to examine the referred points in golden hamster. We found that male hamsters with vomeronasal organ lesion showed no preference between a predator odor (the anal gland secretion of the Siberian weasels (Mustela sibirica) and putative female pheromone components (myristic acid and palmitic acid), but were still able to discriminate between these 2 kinds of odors. In behavioral tests of anxiety, we found that vomeronasal organ removal causes female hamsters to spend much less time in center grids and to cross fewer center grids and males to make fewer crossings between light and dark boxes than sham-operated controls. This indicates that a chronic vomeronasal organ lesion induced anxious responses in females. In aggressive behavioral tests, we found that a chronic vomeronasal organ lesion decreased agonistic behavior in female hamsters but not in males. The pup growth and litter size show no differences between the 2 groups. All together, our data suggested that vomeronasal organ ablation disrupted the olfactory recognition of social chemosignals in males, and induced anxiety-like and aggressive behavior changes in females. However, a vomeronasal organ lesion did not affect the reproductive capacity and fitness of hamsters. Our studies may have important implications concerning the role of the vomeronasal organ in golden hamsters and also in rodents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingjuan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents in Agriculture, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, Institute of Ecology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
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