Odors detected by mice deficient in cyclic nucleotide-gated channel subunit A2 stimulate the main olfactory system.
It is believed that odor transduction in the mammalian main olfactory system only involves the cAMP-signaling pathway. Here, we report on odor responsiveness in mice with a disrupted cyclic nucleotide-gated (CNG) channel subunit A2. Several odorants, including putative pheromones, can be detected and discriminated by these mice behaviorally. These odors elicit responses in the olfactory epithelium, main olfactory bulb, and olfactory (piriform) cortex of CNGA2 knock-out mice. In addition, responses to odors detected by CNGA2 knock-out mice are relatively insensitive to inhibitors of the cAMP pathway. These results provide strong evidence that cAMP-independent pathways in the main olfactory system of mammals participate in detecting a subset of odors.
Lin
Weihong
W
Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Neuroscience Program and Rocky Mountain Taste and Smell Center, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, Colorado 80262, USA.
Arellano
Julie
J
Slotnick
Burton
B
Restrepo
Diego
D
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D003216:Conditioning, Operant; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D054815:Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated Cation Channels; D004193:Discrimination Learning / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics*; D007659:Ketones / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009812:Odorants; D009830:Olfactory Bulb / Q000502:physiology; D009831:Olfactory Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009833:Olfactory Pathways / Q000502:physiology; D010675:Pheromones / Q000494:pharmacology; D021122:Protein Subunits / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / Q000378:metabolism; D011719:Pyrazines / Q000494:pharmacology; D012684:Sensory Thresholds / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D012903:Smell / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical; D014276:Trigeminal Nerve / Q000502:physiology; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000378:metabolism
D054815:Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated Cation Channels; D007473:Ion Channels; D007659:Ketones; D010675:Pheromones; D021122:Protein Subunits; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos; D011719:Pyrazines; C011917:2-heptanone; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase; C075524:2,5-dimethylpyrazine