 |
 Previous Article | Next Article 
Volume 16, Number 15,
Issue of August 1, 1996
pp. 4625-4637
Copyright ©1996 Society for Neuroscience
Electrophysiological Characterization of Chemosensory Neurons
from the Mouse Vomeronasal Organ
Received March 18, 1996; revised May 1, 1996; accepted May 2, 1996.
Emily R. Liman and
David P. Corey
Department of Neurology and Howard Hughes Medical Institute,
Harvard Medical School, and Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston,
Massachusetts 02114
The mechanism of sensory transduction in chemosensory neurons of
the vomeronasal organ (VNO) is not known. Based on molecular data, it
is likely to be different from that mediating sensory transduction in
the main olfactory system. To begin to understand this system, we have
characterized the electrophysiological properties of dissociated mouse
VNO neurons with patch-clamp recording. Sensory neurons were
distinguished from nonsensory neurons by the presence of a dendrite, by
immunoreactivity for olfactory marker protein, and by the firing of
action potentials. The resting potential of VNO neurons was
approximately  60 mV, and the average input resistance was 3 G .
Current injections as small as 1-2 pA elicited steady trains of action
potentials that showed no sign of adaptation during a 2 sec stimulus
duration. The voltage-gated conductances in VNO neurons are distinct
from those in olfactory neurons. The Na+ current
is composed of two components; the major component was TTX-sensitive
(Ki = 3.6 nM). The
outward K+ current activates at 30 mV with
kinetics 10 times slower than for K+ currents in
olfactory neurons. The Ca2+ current is composed
of at least two components: an L-type current and a T-type current that
activates at 60 mV and is not found in olfactory neurons. We find no
evidence for cyclic nucleotide-gated channels in VNO neurons under a
variety of experimental conditions, including those that produced large
responses in mouse olfactory neurons, which is further evidence for a
novel transduction pathway.
Key words:
mouse;
olfactory;
vomeronasal;
sensory
transduction;
patch-clamp;
voltage-gated channel;
cyclic
nucleotide-gated channel
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
|
|
 
R. Tirindelli, M. Dibattista, S. Pifferi, and A. Menini
From Pheromones to Behavior
Physiol Rev,
July 1, 2009;
89(3):
921 - 956.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. Spehr, S. Hagendorf, J. Weiss, M. Spehr, T. Leinders-Zufall, and F. Zufall
Ca2+-Calmodulin Feedback Mediates Sensory Adaptation and Inhibits Pheromone-Sensitive Ion Channels in the Vomeronasal Organ
J. Neurosci.,
February 18, 2009;
29(7):
2125 - 2135.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. Hagendorf, D. Fluegge, C. Engelhardt, and M. Spehr
Homeostatic Control of Sensory Output in Basal Vomeronasal Neurons: Activity-Dependent Expression of Ether-a-Go-Go-Related Gene Potassium Channels
J. Neurosci.,
January 7, 2009;
29(1):
206 - 221.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
P. Zhang, C. Yang, and R. J. Delay
Urine Stimulation Activates BK Channels in Mouse Vomeronasal Neurons
J Neurophysiol,
October 1, 2008;
100(4):
1824 - 1834.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. Dibattista, A. Mazzatenta, F. Grassi, R. Tirindelli, and A. Menini
Hyperpolarization-Activated Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated Channels in Mouse Vomeronasal Sensory Neurons
J Neurophysiol,
August 1, 2008;
100(2):
576 - 586.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
K. Ukhanov, T. Leinders-Zufall, and F. Zufall
Patch-Clamp Analysis of Gene-Targeted Vomeronasal Neurons Expressing a Defined V1r or V2r Receptor: Ionic Mechanisms Underlying Persistent Firing
J Neurophysiol,
October 1, 2007;
98(4):
2357 - 2369.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
R. Shimazaki, A. Boccaccio, A. Mazzatenta, G. Pinato, M. Migliore, and A. Menini
Electrophysiological Properties and Modeling of Murine Vomeronasal Sensory Neurons in Acute Slice Preparations
Chem Senses,
June 1, 2006;
31(5):
425 - 435.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. H. Brann and D. A. Fadool
Vomeronasal sensory neurons from Sternotherus odoratus (stinkpot/musk turtle) respond to chemosignals via the phospholipase C system
J. Exp. Biol.,
May 15, 2006;
209(10):
1914 - 1927.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
F. Fieni, V. Ghiaroni, R. Tirindelli, P. Pietra, and A. Bigiani
Apical and basal neurones isolated from the mouse vomeronasal organ differ for voltage-dependent currents
J. Physiol.,
October 15, 2003;
552(2):
425 - 436.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
L. Lagostena and A. Menini
Whole-cell Recordings and Photolysis of Caged Compounds in Olfactory Sensory Neurons Isolated from the Mouse
Chem Senses,
October 1, 2003;
28(8):
705 - 716.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
E. R Liman
Regulation by voltage and adenine nucleotides of a Ca2+-activated cation channel from hamster vomeronasal sensory neurons
J. Physiol.,
May 1, 2003;
548(3):
777 - 787.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
K. R. Kelliher, J. Ziesmann, S. D. Munger, R. R. Reed, and F. Zufall
Importance of the CNGA4 channel gene for odor discrimination and adaptation in behaving mice
PNAS,
April 1, 2003;
100(7):
4299 - 4304.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
V. Ghiaroni, F. Fieni, R. Tirindelli, P. Pietra, and A. Bigiani
Ion Conductances in Supporting Cells Isolated From the Mouse Vomeronasal Organ
J Neurophysiol,
January 1, 2003;
89(1):
118 - 127.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. Spehr, H. Hatt, and C. H. Wetzel
Arachidonic Acid Plays a Role in Rat Vomeronasal Signal Transduction
J. Neurosci.,
October 1, 2002;
22(19):
8429 - 8437.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
P. Lucas and T. Shimahara
Voltage- and Calcium-activated Currents in Cultured Olfactory Receptor Neurons of Male Mamestra brassicae (Lepidoptera)
Chem Senses,
September 1, 2002;
27(7):
599 - 610.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. A. Cherry and V. Pho
Characterization of cAMP Degradation by Phosphodiesterases in the Accessory Olfactory System
Chem Senses,
September 1, 2002;
27(7):
643 - 652.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
D. A. Fadool, M. Wachowiak, and J. H. Brann
Patch-clamp analysis of voltage-activated and chemically activated currents in the vomeronasal organ of Sternotherus odoratus (stinkpot/musk turtle)
J. Exp. Biol.,
March 14, 2002;
204(24):
4199 - 4212.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
T. E. Holy, C. Dulac, and M. Meister
Responses of Vomeronasal Neurons to Natural Stimuli
Science,
September 1, 2000;
289(5484):
1569 - 1572.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
D. Trotier, C. Eloit, M. Wassef, G. Talmain, J.L. Bensimon, K.B. Doving, and J. Ferrand
The Vomeronasal Cavity in Adult Humans
Chem Senses,
August 1, 2000;
25(4):
369 - 380.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
P. Rossler, C. Kroner, J. Krieger, D. Lobel, H. Breer, and I. Boekhoff
Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate Signaling in the Rat Vomeronasal Organ: Role of an Adenylyl Cyclase Type VI
Chem Senses,
June 1, 2000;
25(3):
313 - 322.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
S.-I. Sekizawa, A. S. French, and P. H. Torkkeli
Low-Voltage-Activated Calcium Current Does Not Regulate the Firing Behavior in Paired Mechanosensory Neurons With Different Adaptation Properties
J Neurophysiol,
February 1, 2000;
83(2):
746 - 753.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. Taniguchi, D. Wang, and M. Halpern
Chemosensitive Conductance and Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate-induced Conductance in Snake Vomeronasal Receptor Neurons
Chem Senses,
February 1, 2000;
25(1):
67 - 76.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
E. B. Keverne
The Vomeronasal Organ
Science,
October 22, 1999;
286(5440):
716 - 720.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
K. Inamura, Y. Matsumoto, M. Kashiwayanagi, and K. Kurihara
Laminar distribution of pheromone-receptive neurons in rat vomeronasal epithelium
J. Physiol.,
June 15, 1999;
517(3):
731 - 739.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
E. R. Liman, D. P. Corey, and C. Dulac
TRP2: A candidate transduction channel for mammalian pheromone sensory signaling
PNAS,
May 11, 1999;
96(10):
5791 - 5796.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
K. S. Wekesa and R. R. H. Anholt
Pheromone Regulated Production of Inositol-(1, 4, 5)-Trisphosphate in the Mammalian Vomeronasal Organ
Endocrinology,
August 1, 1997;
138(8):
3497 - 3504.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
R. L. Moss, R. E. Flynn, X.-M. Shen, C. Dudley, J. Shi, and M. Novotny
Urine-Derived Compound Evokes Membrane Responses in Mouse Vomeronasal Receptor Neurons
J Neurophysiol,
May 1, 1997;
77(5):
2856 - 2862.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
L. Stowers, T. E. Holy, M. Meister, C. Dulac, and G. Koentges
Loss of Sex Discrimination and Male-Male Aggression in Mice Deficient for TRP2
Science,
February 22, 2002;
295(5559):
1493 - 1500.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
F. Kawai and E.-i. Miyachi
Enhancement by T-Type Ca2+ Currents of Odor Sensitivity in Olfactory Receptor Cells
J. Neurosci.,
May 15, 2001;
21(10):
RC144 - RC144.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
