Grueneberg ganglion cells mediate alarm pheromone detection in mice.
Alarm pheromones (APs) are widely used throughout the plant and animal kingdoms. Species such as fish, insects, and mammals signal danger to conspecifics by releasing volatile alarm molecules. Thus far, neither the chemicals, their bodily source, nor the sensory system involved in their detection have been isolated or identified in mammals. We found that APs are recognized by the Grueneberg ganglion (GG), a recently discovered olfactory subsystem. We showed with electron microscopy that GG neurons bear primary cilia, with cell bodies ensheathed by glial cells. APs evoked calcium responses in GG neurons in vitro and induced freezing behavior in vivo, which completely disappeared when the GG degenerated after axotomy. We conclude that mice detect APs through the activation of olfactory GG neurons.
Brechbühl
Julien
J
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Lausanne, Bugnon 27, CH-1005 Lausanne, Switzerland.
Klaey
Magali
M
Broillet
Marie-Christine
MC
D000819:Animal Communication; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D019771:Axotomy; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002923:Cilia / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D017950:Ganglia, Sensory / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051379:Mice; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000166:cytology / Q000294:innervation*; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010539:Permeability; D010675:Pheromones / Q000032:analysis*; D013312:Stress, Physiological
D010675:Pheromones; D002118:Calcium