Accessory olfactory bulb function is modulated by input from the main olfactory epithelium.
Although it is now established that sensory neurons in both the main olfactory epithelium and the vomeronasal organ may be activated by both general and pheromonal odorants, it remains unclear what initiates sampling by the vomeronasal organ. Anterograde transport of wheat germ agglutinin-horseradish peroxidase was used to determine that adequate intranasal syringing with zinc sulfate interrupted all inputs to the main olfactory bulb but left intact those to the accessory olfactory bulb. Adult male treated mice were frankly anosmic when tested with pheromonal and non-pheromonal odors and failed to engage in aggressive behavior. Treated juvenile females failed to show puberty acceleration subsequent to exposure to bedding from adult males. Activation of the immediate early gene c-Fos and electrovomeronasogram recording confirmed the integrity of the vomeronasal system in zinc sulfate-treated mice. These results support the hypothesis that odor detection by the main olfactory epithelium is required to initiate sampling by the vomeronasal system.
Slotnick
Burton
B
Department of Psychology, University of South Florida, PCD 4118G, 4202 Fowler Avenue, Tampa, FL 33620, USA. slotnic@american.edu
Restrepo
Diego
D
Schellinck
Heather
H
Archbold
Georgina
G
Price
Stephen
S
Lin
Weihong
W
D000367:Age Factors; D000374:Aggression / Q000502:physiology; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D004192:Discrimination, Psychological / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009812:Odorants; D009830:Olfactory Bulb / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009831:Olfactory Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / Q000378:metabolism; D012903:Smell / Q000502:physiology; D019287:Zinc Sulfate / Q000494:pharmacology
D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos; D019287:Zinc Sulfate