Ultrasensitive pheromone detection by mammalian vomeronasal neurons

Trese Leinders-Zufall, Andrew P. Lane, Adam C. Puche, Weidong Ma, Milos V. Novotny, Michael T. Shipley and Frank Zufall ()
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Trese Leinders-Zufall: University of Maryland School of Medicine
Andrew P. Lane: University of Maryland School of Medicine
Adam C. Puche: University of Maryland School of Medicine
Weidong Ma: Indiana University
Milos V. Novotny: Indiana University
Michael T. Shipley: University of Maryland School of Medicine
Frank Zufall: University of Maryland School of Medicine

Nature, 2000, vol. 405, issue 6788, 792-796

Abstract: Abstract The vomeronasal organ (VNO) is a chemoreceptive organ that is thought to transduce pheromones into electrical responses that regulate sexual, hormonal and reproductive function in mammals1,2,3,4,5. The characteristics of pheromone signal detection by vomeronasal neurons remain unclear3,5. Here we use a mouse VNO slice preparation to show that six putative pheromones evoke excitatory responses in single vomeronasal neurons, leading to action potential generation and elevated calcium entry. The detection threshold for some of these chemicals is remarkably low, near 10-11 M, placing these neurons among the most sensitive chemodetectors in mammals. Using confocal calcium imaging, we map the epithelial representation of the pheromones to show that each of the ligands activates a unique, nonoverlapping subset of vomeronasal neurons located in apical zones of the epithelium. These neurons show highly selective tuning properties and their tuning curves do not broaden with increasing concentrations of ligand, unlike those of receptor neurons in the main olfactory epithelium. These findings provide a basis for understanding chemical signals that regulate mammalian communication and sexual behaviour.

Date: 2000
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DOI: 10.1038/35015572

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