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In-depth Physiological Analysis of Defined Cell Populations in Acute Tissue Slices of the Mouse Vomeronasal Organ
Published on: September 10, 2016
An olfactory subsystem that mediates high-sensitivity detection of volatile amines
Rodrigo Pacifico1, Adam Dewan, Dillon Cawley
1Department of Neurobiology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA.
Cell Reports
|July 31, 2012
Summary
Trace amine-associated receptors (TAARs) form a distinct olfactory pathway in mice. This system is hard-wired for detecting volatile amines at low concentrations.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Olfactory System Research
- Sensory Biology
Background:
- Mice possess over 1,000 odorant receptors, each mapping to specific olfactory bulb glomeruli.
- The role of trace amine-associated receptors (TAARs), a conserved olfactory receptor family, in olfaction is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the mapping and function of trace amine-associated receptors (TAARs) within the mouse olfactory system.
- To determine if TAARs represent a distinct functional domain within the olfactory bulb.
Main Methods:
- Mapping TAAR expression to specific glomeruli in the mouse olfactory bulb.
- Analyzing the sensory neuron populations expressing TAAR genes.
- Investigating the activation patterns of TAAR glomeruli by amine stimuli.
Main Results:
- A majority of TAARs map to a unique set of glomeruli in the dorsal olfactory bulb, separate from known olfactory domains.
- This TAAR projection originates from sensory neurons restricted to TAAR gene expression.
- Dorsal TAAR glomeruli are selectively activated by low concentrations of amines.
Conclusions:
- The study reveals a dedicated, parallel olfactory pathway for volatile amine detection.
- This hard-wired system in the main olfactory pathway is specialized for sensing amines.
- TAARs contribute a distinct functional stream to the mammalian olfactory system.
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