Development of the main olfactory system and main olfactory epithelium-dependent male mating behavior are altered in Go-deficient mice.
In mammals, initial detection of olfactory stimuli is mediated by sensory neurons in the main olfactory epithelium (MOE) and the vomeronasal organ (VNO). The heterotrimeric GTP-binding protein Go is widely expressed in the MOE and VNO of mice. Early studies indicated that Go expression in VNO sensory neurons is critical for directing social and sexual behaviors in female mice [Oboti L, et al. (2014) BMC Biol 12:31]. However, the physiological functions of Go in the MOE have remained poorly defined. Here, we examined the role of Go in the MOE using mice lacking the α subunit of Go Development of the olfactory bulb (OB) was perturbed in mutant mice as a result of reduced neurogenesis and increased cell death. The balance between cell types of OB interneurons was altered in mutant mice, with an increase in the number of tyrosine hydroxylase-positive interneurons at the expense of calbindin-positive interneurons. Sexual behavior toward female mice and preference for female urine odors by olfactory sensory neurons in the MOE were abolished in mutant male mice. Our data suggest that Go signaling is essential for the structural and functional integrity of the MOE and for specification of OB interneurons, which in turn are required for the transmission of pheromone signals and the initiation of mating behavior with the opposite sex.
Department of Anatomy, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon 16499, South Korea;
Jung-Mi
JM
Choi
Department of Anatomy, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon 16499, South Korea;
Sung-Soo
SS
Kim
Department of Anatomy, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon 16499, South Korea;
Chan-Il
CI
Choi
Department of Anatomy, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon 16499, South Korea;
Hye Lim
HL
Cha
Department of Anatomy, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon 16499, South Korea; Department of Biomedical Sciences, The Graduate School, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon 16499, South Korea;
Huy-Hyen
HH
Oh
Department of Life Science, Kyonggi University, Suwon 16227, South Korea;
Sungho
S
Ghil
Department of Anatomy, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon 16499, South Korea; Department of Biomedical Sciences, The Graduate School, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon 16499, South Korea;
Young-Don
YD
Lee
Neurobiology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709; Institute of Biomedical Research, School of Medical Sciences, Catholic University of Argentina, C1107AFF Buenos Aires, Argentina Birnbau1@gmail.com hysuh@ajou.ac.kr.
Lutz
L
Birnbaumer
Department of Anatomy, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon 16499, South Korea; Department of Biomedical Sciences, The Graduate School, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon 16499, South Korea; Birnbau1@gmail.com hysuh@ajou.ac.kr.
Haeyoung
H
Suh-Kim
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics; D002452:Cell Count; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019206:GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gi-Go / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D017353:Gene Deletion; D007395:Interneurons / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008954:Models, Biological; D055495:Neurogenesis / Q000235:genetics; D009830:Olfactory Bulb / Q000378:metabolism; D009831:Olfactory Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000378:metabolism; D019147:Vomeronasal Organ / Q000378:metabolism
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase; D019206:GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gi-Go
heterotrimeric Go protein; olfactory bulb interneuron; olfactory mucosa; sexual behavior; tyrosine monooxygenase