Loss of sex discrimination and male-male aggression in mice deficient for TRP2.
The mouse vomeronasal organ (VNO) is thought to mediate social behaviors and neuroendocrine changes elicited by pheromonal cues. The molecular mechanisms underlying the sensory response to pheromones and the behavioral repertoire induced through the VNO are not fully characterized. Using the tools of mouse genetics and multielectrode recording, we demonstrate that the sensory activation of VNO neurons requires TRP2, a putative ion channel of the transient receptor potential family that is expressed exclusively in these neurons. Moreover, we show that male mice deficient in TRP2 expression fail to display male-male aggression, and they initiate sexual and courtship behaviors toward both males and females. Our study suggests that, in the mouse, sensory activation of the VNO is essential for sex discrimination of conspecifics and thus ensures gender-specific behavior.
Stowers
Lisa
L
Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.
Holy
Timothy E
TE
Meister
Markus
M
Dulac
Catherine
C
Koentges
Georgy
G
D000374:Aggression; D000818:Animals; D002628:Chemoreceptor Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D003433:Crosses, Genetic; D003463:Cues; D004594:Electrophysiology; D018274:Electroporation; D005260:Female; D018390:Gene Targeting; D008297:Male; D008425:Maternal Behavior; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009154:Mutation; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000502:physiology*; D009812:Odorants; D009830:Olfactory Bulb / Q000502:physiology; D009831:Olfactory Mucosa / Q000502:physiology; D010675:Pheromones / Q000502:physiology* / Q000652:urine; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal; D015398:Signal Transduction; D050052:TRPC Cation Channels; D014741:Video Recording; D019147:Vomeronasal Organ / Q000294:innervation* / Q000502:physiology
D008565:Membrane Proteins; D010675:Pheromones; D050052:TRPC Cation Channels; C113139:Trp2 protein, vertebrate; C491858:Trpc2 protein, mouse