| Title: | G protein G(alpha)o is essential for vomeronasal function and aggressive behavior in mice |
| Author(s): | Chamero P; Katsoulidou V; Hendrix P; Bufe B; Roberts R; Matsunami H; Abramowitz J; Birnbaumer L; Zufall F; Leinders-Zufall T; |
| Address: | "Department of Physiology, University of Saarland School of Medicine, 66424 Homburg, Germany" |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1091-6490 (Electronic) 0027-8424 (Print) 0027-8424 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "The rodent vomeronasal organ (VNO) mediates the regulation of species-specific and interspecies social behaviors. We have used gene targeting to examine the role of the G protein Galphao, encoded by the gene Gnao1, in vomeronasal function. We used the Cre-loxP system to delete Galphao in those cells that express olfactory marker protein, which includes all vomeronasal sensory neurons of the basal layer of the VNO sensory epithelium. Using electrophysiology and calcium imaging, we show that the conditional null mice exhibit strikingly reduced sensory responses in V2R receptor-expressing vomeronasal sensory neurons to specific molecular cues, including MHC1 antigens, major urinary proteins, and exocrine gland-secreting peptide. Galphao is also vital for vomeronasal sensing of two N-formylated mitochondrially encoded peptides derived from NADH dehydrogenase 1. Furthermore, we show that Galphao is an essential requirement for the display of male-male territorial aggression as well as maternal aggression in mice. Finally, we show that Galphao-dependent maternal aggression can be induced by major urinary proteins. These cellular and behavioral phenotypes identify Galphao as the primary G-protein alpha-subunit mediating the detection of peptide and protein pheromones by sensory neurons of the VNO" |
| Keywords: | "Aggression/*physiology Analysis of Variance Animals Animals, Newborn Calcium/metabolism Female GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gi-Go/genetics/metabolism/*physiology Gene Expression Habituation, Psychophysiologic/physiology Immunohistochemistry Male Me;" |
| Notes: | "MedlineChamero, Pablo Katsoulidou, Vicky Hendrix, Philipp Bufe, Bernd Roberts, Richard Matsunami, Hiroaki Abramowitz, Joel Birnbaumer, Lutz Zufall, Frank Leinders-Zufall, Trese eng R01 DC005782/DC/NIDCD NIH HHS/ Z01 ES-101643/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS/ DC010857/DC/NIDCD NIH HHS/ R01 DC010857/DC/NIDCD NIH HHS/ Z01 ES101643/ImNIH/Intramural NIH HHS/ Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't 2011/07/20 Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2011 Aug 2; 108(31):12898-903. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1107770108. Epub 2011 Jul 18" |
