title: Deconstructing pheromone-mediated behavior one layer at a time.
abstract: The vomeronasal organ, a sensory structure within the nasal cavity of most tetrapods, detects pheromones that influence socio-sexual behavior. It has two neuronal layers, each patterned by distinct receptor sub-families coupled to different G-proteins. Work recently published in this journal found female mice with one layer genetically inactivated are deficient in a surprisingly wide range of reproductive behaviors, providing new insights into how the nose can influence the brain.
authors.forename: Gabriela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Andrade
authors.affiliation: Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SA, UK. dl5@sanger.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Darren W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Logan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D010675:Pheromones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D010675:Pheromones; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins