a recent class of chemosensory neurons developed in mouse and rat最近的化学感应的神经元在老鼠和老鼠.pdfVIP

A Recent Class of Chemosensory Neurons Developed in Mouse and Rat 1,2 1,2 3 4 1,2 Lucia Silvotti , Eleonora Cavalca , Rita Gatti , Riccardo Percudani , Roberto Tirindelli * 1 Department of Neuroscience, University of Parma, Parma, Italy, 2 Italian Institute of Technology (IIT, BCSMC), University of Parma, Parma, Italy, 3 Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Parma, Parma, Italy, 4 Department of Biochemistry, University of Parma, Parma, Italy Abstract In most animal species, the vomeronasal organ ensures the individual recognition of conspecifics, a prerequisite for a successful reproduction. The vomeronasal organ expresses several receptors for pheromone detection. Mouse vomeronasal type-2 receptors (V2Rs) are restricted to the basal neurons of this organ and organized in four families. Family-A, B and D (family ABD) V2Rs are expressed monogenically (one receptor per neuron) and coexpress with either Vmn2r1 or Vmn2r2, two members of family-C V2Rs. Thus, basal neurons are characterized by specific combinations of two V2Rs. To investigate this issue, we raised antibodies against all family-C V2Rs and analyzed their expression pattern. We found that six out of seven family-C V2Rs (Vmn2r2-7) largely coexpressed and that none of the anti-Vmn2r2-7 antibodies significantly stained Vmn2r1 positive neurons. Thus, basal neurons are divided into two complementary subsets. The first subset (Vmn2r1- positive) preferentially coexpresses a distinct group of family-ABD V2Rs, whereas the second subset (Vmn2r2-7-positive) coexpresses the remaining group of V2Rs. Phylogenetic reconstruction and the analysis of genetic loci in various species reveal that