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Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A

Title:		Central role of G protein Galphai2 and Galphai2(+) vomeronasal neurons in balancing territorial and infant-directed aggression of male mice
Author(s):		Trouillet AC; Keller M; Weiss J; Leinders-Zufall T; Birnbaumer L; Zufall F; Chamero P;
Address:		"Laboratoire de Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, UMR Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)-CNRS-Institut Francais du Cheval et de l'Equitation (IFCE)-University of Tours, 37380 Nouzilly, France. Center for Integrative Physiology and Molecular Medicine, Saarland University, 66421 Homburg, Germany. Neurobiology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Durham, NC 27709; Birnbau1@gmail.com frank.zufall@uks.eu pablo.chamero-benito@inra.fr. Institute of Biomedical Research (BIOMED), School of Medical Sciences, Catholic University of Argentina, C1107AAZ Buenos Aires, Argentina. Center for Integrative Physiology and Molecular Medicine, Saarland University, 66421 Homburg, Germany; Birnbau1@gmail.com frank.zufall@uks.eu pablo.chamero-benito@inra.fr. Laboratoire de Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, UMR Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)-CNRS-Institut Francais du Cheval et de l'Equitation (IFCE)-University of Tours, 37380 Nouzilly, France; Birnbau1@gmail.com frank.zufall@uks.eu pablo.chamero-benito@inra.fr"
Journal Title:		Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
Year:		2019
Volume:		20190225
Issue:		11
Page Number:		5135 - 5143
DOI:		10.1073/pnas.1821492116
ISSN/ISBN:		1091-6490 (Electronic) 0027-8424 (Print) 0027-8424 (Linking)
Abstract:		"Aggression is controlled by the olfactory system in many animal species. In male mice, territorial and infant-directed aggression are tightly regulated by the vomeronasal organ (VNO), but how diverse subsets of sensory neurons convey pheromonal information to limbic centers is not yet known. Here, we employ genetic strategies to show that mouse vomeronasal sensory neurons expressing the G protein subunit Galphai2 regulate male-male and infant-directed aggression through distinct circuit mechanisms. Conditional ablation of Galphai2 enhances male-male aggression and increases neural activity in the medial amygdala (MeA), bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, and lateral septum. By contrast, conditional Galphai2 ablation causes reduced infant-directed aggression and decreased activity in MeA neurons during male-infant interactions. Strikingly, these mice also display enhanced parental behavior and elevated neural activity in the medial preoptic area, whereas sexual behavior remains normal. These results identify Galphai2 as the primary G protein alpha-subunit mediating the detection of volatile chemosignals in the apical layer of the VNO, and they show that Galphai2(+) VSNs and the brain circuits activated by these neurons play a central role in orchestrating and balancing territorial and infant-directed aggression of male mice through bidirectional activation and inhibition of different targets in the limbic system"
Keywords:		"*Aggression Animals Animals, Newborn Biomarkers/metabolism Brain/physiology Brain Mapping Female GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunit, Gi2/*metabolism Gene Deletion Male Mice, Inbred C57BL Mutation/genetics Sensory Receptor Cells/*metabolism Sexual Behavior, ;"
Notes:		"MedlineTrouillet, Anne-Charlotte Keller, Matthieu Weiss, Jan Leinders-Zufall, Trese Birnbaumer, Lutz Zufall, Frank Chamero, Pablo eng Z01 ES101643/Intramural NIH HHS/ Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't 2019/02/26 Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2019 Mar 12; 116(11):5135-5143. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1821492116. Epub 2019 Feb 25"