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The Journal of Neuroscience, February 18, 2009, 29(7):2125-2135; doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.5416-08.2009

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Cellular/Molecular
Ca²⁺–Calmodulin Feedback Mediates Sensory Adaptation and Inhibits Pheromone-Sensitive Ion Channels in the Vomeronasal Organ

Jennifer Spehr,¹ Silke Hagendorf,² Jan Weiss,³ Marc Spehr,² Trese Leinders-Zufall,³ and Frank Zufall³

¹Department of Cellular Physiology and ²Emmy Noether Research Group, Ruhr University of Bochum, 44780 Bochum, Germany, and ³Department of Physiology, University of Saarland School of Medicine, 66421 Homburg, Germany

Correspondence should be addressed to Frank Zufall, Department of Physiology, University of Saarland School of Medicine, Building 58, 66421 Homburg, Germany. Email: frank.zufall{at}uks.eu

The mammalian vomeronasal organ (VNO) mediates the regulation of social behaviors by complex chemical signals. These cues trigger transient elevations of intracellular Ca²⁺ in vomeronasal sensory neurons (VSNs), but the functional role of such Ca²⁺ elevations is unknown. We show that stimulus-induced Ca²⁺ entry plays an essential role as a negative feedback regulator of VSN sensitivity. Electrophysiological VSN responses undergo effective sensory adaptation that requires the influx of Ca²⁺ and is mediated by calmodulin (CaM). Removal of the Ca²⁺–CaM feedback eliminates this form of adaptation. A key target of this feedback module is the pheromone-sensitive TRPC2-dependent cation channel of VSNs, as its activation is strongly inhibited by Ca²⁺–CaM. Our results reveal a previously unrecognized CaM-signaling pathway that endows the VSNs with a mechanism for adjusting gain and sensitivity of chemosensory signaling in the VNO.

Key words: pheromone sensing; modulation; Ca²⁺ feedback; TRPC2; gain control; olfactory

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Received Nov. 10, 2008; revised Jan. 9, 2009; accepted Jan. 11, 2009.

Correspondence should be addressed to Frank Zufall, Department of Physiology, University of Saarland School of Medicine, Building 58, 66421 Homburg, Germany. Email: frank.zufall{at}uks.eu

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]

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