| Title: | Odorant receptor gene expression changes during the parr-smolt transformation in Atlantic salmon |
| Author(s): | Dukes JP; Deaville R; Bruford MW; Youngson AF; Jordan WC; |
| Address: | "Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, NW1 4RY, UK" |
| DOI: | 10.1111/j.1365-294X.2004.02252.x |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 0962-1083 (Print) 0962-1083 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "The ability of salmon to home accurately to their natal stream to spawn has long intrigued biologists and has important consequences for the maintenance of population structure in these species. It is known that olfaction is crucial to homing, and that the transition from the freshwater to the marine environment (the parr-smolt transformation; PST) is a period of increased olfactory sensitivity and learning, resulting in a permanent memory of natal site odours that is retained, at least in part, in peripheral sensory neurones. These odours are then used as cues by sexually maturing fish on their homeward migration. We used quantitative polymerase chain reaction techniques to demonstrate transient increases in expression of odorant receptor transcripts (of up to fifty-fold over pre-PST levels) coincident with PST. Both olfactory (SORB) and vomeronasal receptors (SVRA and SVRC) are involved, which suggests that the fish learn both environmental odours and semiochemicals (pheromones). Receptor expression varies between families and changes over time indicating both genetic differences in odour stimuli and multiple periods of olfactory sensitivity. We suggest that changes in OR gene expression may have a role in homing behaviour and thus the maintenance of population structure in Atlantic salmon" |
| Keywords: | "Amino Acid Sequence Animals Base Sequence DNA Primers DNA, Complementary/genetics Environment Fresh Water *Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental Homing Behavior/physiology Molecular Sequence Data Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods Receptors, Odorant/ge;" |
| Notes: | "MedlineDukes, J P Deaville, R Bruford, M W Youngson, A F Jordan, W C eng Comparative Study Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't England 2004/08/19 Mol Ecol. 2004 Sep; 13(9):2851-7. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-294X.2004.02252.x" |
