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The Journal of Experimental Biology 206, 827-832 (2003)
doi: 10.1242/jeb.00174

Involvement of G_q/11 in signal transduction in the mammalian vomeronasal organ

Kennedy S. Wekesa^*, Stephanie Miller and Audrey Napier

Alabama State University, Biomedical Research and Training Programs, Montgomery, AL 36104-0271, USA

^* Author for correspondence (e-mail: kwekesa{at}asunet.alasu.edu)

Accepted 26 November 2002

Social behaviors of most mammals are profoundly affected by pheromones. Pheromones are detected by G-protein coupled receptors in the vomeronasal organ (VNO). To investigate the role of G_q/11 in vomeronasal signal transduction pathways, microvillar membranes from murine VNO were prepared. Incubation of such membranes from prepubertal females with adult male urine results in an increase in production of inositol-(1,4,5)-trisphosphate (IP₃). This stimulation is mimicked by GTPS, blocked by GDPßS and is tissue specific. Furthermore, use of bacterial toxins such as pertussis that lead to ADP-ribosylation of the G-protein alpha subunits of G_o and G_i2 do not block the increase in IP₃ levels but U-73122, a PLC inhibitor, blocks the production of IP₃. Studies with monospecific antibodies revealed the presence of three G-proteins, G_o, G_i2 and G_q/11-related protein, in vomeronasal neurons, concentrated on their microvilli. Our observations indicate that pheromones in male urine act on vomeronasal neurons in the female VNO via a receptor-mediated, G_q/11-protein-dependent increase in IP₃ levels.

Key words: pheromone, G_q/11, IP₃, signal transduction, mammal, vomeronasal organ

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