Title: | Altered sexual and social behaviors in trp2 mutant mice |
Author(s): | Leypold BG; Yu CR; Leinders-Zufall T; Kim MM; Zufall F; Axel R; |
Address: | "Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA" |
ISSN/ISBN: | 0027-8424 (Print) 1091-6490 (Electronic) 0027-8424 (Linking) |
Abstract: | "We have used gene targeting to generate mice with a homozygous deficiency in trp2, a cation channel expressed in the vomeronasal organ (VNO). Trp2 mutant animals reveal a striking reduction in the electrophysiological response to pheromones in the VNO, suggesting that trp2 plays a central role in mediating the pheromone response. These mutants therefore afford the opportunity to examine the role of the VNO in the generation of innate sexual and social behaviors in mice. Trp2 mutant males and nursing females are docile and fail to initiate aggressive attacks on intruder males. Male-female sexual behavior appears normal, but trp2 mutant males also vigorously mount other males. These results suggest that the cation channel trp2 is required in the VNO to detect male-specific pheromones that elicit aggressive behaviors and dictate the choice of sexual partners" |
Keywords: | "Aggression Animals Electrophysiology Female Gene Deletion Homozygote Male Membrane Proteins/*genetics/*physiology Mice Mice, Inbred C57BL *Mutation Pheromones Sex Factors *Sexual Behavior, Animal TRPC Cation Channels Vomeronasal Organ/physiology;" |
Notes: | "MedlineLeypold, Bradley G Yu, C Ron Leinders-Zufall, Trese Kim, Michelle M Zufall, Frank Axel, Richard eng NS29832/NS/NINDS NIH HHS/ F32 DC000347/DC/NIDCD NIH HHS/ MH01888/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/ P01 DC000347/DC/NIDCD NIH HHS/ DC00347/DC/NIDCD NIH HHS/ DC05249/DC/NIDCD NIH HHS/ K01 MH001888/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/ R01 DC005249/DC/NIDCD NIH HHS/ Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S. 2002/04/25 Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2002 Apr 30; 99(9):6376-81. doi: 10.1073/pnas.082127599. Epub 2002 Apr 23" |