Encoding gender and individual information in the mouse vomeronasal organ. Science (New York, N.Y.) [Science] Journal article

Title	Encoding gender and individual information in the mouse vomeronasal organ.
Author(s)	He J, Ma L, Kim S, Nakai J, Yu CR
Institution	Stowers Institute for Medical Research, 1000 East 50th Street, Kansas City, MO 64110, USA.
Source	Science 2008 Apr 25; 320(5875):535-8.
MeSH	Animals Behavior, Animal Calcium Cluster Analysis Cues Female Male Mice Mice, Inbred C57BL Mice, Inbred CBA Neurons, Afferent Pheromones Principal Component Analysis Receptors, Pheromone Sex Characteristics Urine Vomeronasal Organ
Abstract	The mammalian vomeronasal organ detects complex chemical signals that convey information about gender, strain, and the social and reproductive status of an individual. How these signals are encoded is poorly understood. We developed transgenic mice expressing the calcium indicator G-CaMP2 and analyzed population responses of vomeronasal neurons to urine from individual animals. A substantial portion of cells was activated by either male or female urine, but only a small population of cells responded exclusively to gender-specific cues shared across strains and individuals. Female cues activated more cells and were subject to more complex hormonal regulations than male cues. In contrast to gender, strain and individual information was encoded by the combinatorial activation of neurons such that urine from different individuals activated distinctive cell populations.
Language	eng
Pub Type(s)	Journal Article Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
PubMed ID	18436787

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