title: G protein G(alpha)o is essential for vomeronasal function and aggressive behavior in mice.
abstract: The rodent vomeronasal organ (VNO) mediates the regulation of species-specific and interspecies social behaviors. We have used gene targeting to examine the role of the G protein Gαo, encoded by the gene Gnao1, in vomeronasal function. We used the Cre-loxP system to delete Gαo in those cells that express olfactory marker protein, which includes all vomeronasal sensory neurons of the basal layer of the VNO sensory epithelium. Using electrophysiology and calcium imaging, we show that the conditional null mice exhibit strikingly reduced sensory responses in V2R receptor-expressing vomeronasal sensory neurons to specific molecular cues, including MHC1 antigens, major urinary proteins, and exocrine gland-secreting peptide. Gαo is also vital for vomeronasal sensing of two N-formylated mitochondrially encoded peptides derived from NADH dehydrogenase 1. Furthermore, we show that Gαo is an essential requirement for the display of male-male territorial aggression as well as maternal aggression in mice. Finally, we show that Gαo-dependent maternal aggression can be induced by major urinary proteins. These cellular and behavioral phenotypes identify Gαo as the primary G-protein α-subunit mediating the detection of peptide and protein pheromones by sensory neurons of the VNO.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, University of Saarland School of Medicine, 66424 Homburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chamero
authors.forename: Vicky
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Katsoulidou
authors.forename: Philipp
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hendrix
authors.forename: Bernd
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bufe
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Matsunami
authors.forename: Joel
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Abramowitz
authors.forename: Lutz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Birnbaumer
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zufall
authors.forename: Trese
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Leinders-Zufall
mesh_terms: D000374:Aggression / Q000502:physiology*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D019206:GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gi-Go / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D015870:Gene Expression; D006185:Habituation, Psychophysiologic / Q000502:physiology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009812:Odorants; D051842:Olfactory Marker Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D017483:Receptors, Vasopressin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011984:Sensory Receptor Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D019147:Vomeronasal Organ / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D051842:Olfactory Marker Protein; D017483:Receptors, Vasopressin; D019206:GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gi-Go; D002118:Calcium