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J Neurosci

Title:		Extracellular pH regulates excitability of vomeronasal sensory neurons
Author(s):		Cichy A; Ackels T; Tsitoura C; Kahan A; Gronloh N; Sochtig M; Engelhardt CH; Ben-Shaul Y; Muller F; Spehr J; Spehr M;
Address:		"Department of Chemosensation, Institute for Biology II, RWTH Aachen University, D-52074 Aachen, Germany. School of Medicine, Department of Medical Neurobiology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, 91120 Israel, and. Cellular Biophysics, Institute of Complex Systems, Forschungszentrum Julich, D-52425 Julich, Germany. Department of Chemosensation, Institute for Biology II, RWTH Aachen University, D-52074 Aachen, Germany, m.spehr@sensorik.rwth-aachen.de"
Journal Title:		J Neurosci
Year:		2015
Volume:		35
Issue:		9
Page Number:		4025 - 4039
DOI:		10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2593-14.2015
ISSN/ISBN:		1529-2401 (Electronic) 0270-6474 (Print) 0270-6474 (Linking)
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"
Keywords:		"Animals Estrus/physiology Female Hydrogen-Ion Concentration Male Mice Mice, Inbred C57BL Olfactory Bulb/cytology/physiology Patch-Clamp Techniques Sensory Receptor Cells/*physiology TRPC Cation Channels/genetics Vomeronasal Organ/*cytology/*physiology Hcn;"
Notes:		"MedlineCichy, Annika Ackels, Tobias Tsitoura, Chryssanthi Kahan, Anat Gronloh, Nina Sochtig, Melanie Engelhardt, Corinna H Ben-Shaul, Yoram Muller, Frank Spehr, Jennifer Spehr, Marc eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't 2015/03/06 J Neurosci. 2015 Mar 4; 35(9):4025-39. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2593-14.2015"