Biology subjects

Cichy, A.

Publications and source records attributed to Cichy, A..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2021

Map-independent representation of an aggression-promoting social cue in the main olfactory pathway

AO_SCPLOWBSTRACTC_SCPLOWWhile the olfactory system is required for proper social behaviors, the molecular basis for how social cues are detected via the main olfactory pathway of mammals is not well-characterized. Trimethylamine is a volatile, sex-specific odor found in adult male mouse urine that selectively activates main olfactory sensory neurons that express trace amine-associated receptor 5 (TAAR5). Here we show that trimethylamine, acting via TAAR5, elicits state-dependent attraction or aversion in male mice and drives inter-male aggression. Genetic knockout of TAAR5 significantly reduces aggression-related behaviors, while adding trimethylamine augments aggressive behavior towards juvenile males. We further show that transgenic expression of TAAR5 specifically in olfactory sensory neurons rescues aggressive behaviors in knockout mice, despite extensive remapping of TAAR5 projections to the olfactory bulb. Our results identify a specific main olfactory input that detects a prominent male-specific odor to induce inter-male aggression in a mammalian species and reveal that apparently innate behavioral responses are independent of patterned glomerular input to the olfactory bulb.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2018

Single olfactory receptors set odor detection thresholds

In many species, survival depends on olfaction, yet the mechanisms that underlie olfactory sensitivity are not well understood. Here, we examine how a conserved subset of olfactory receptors, the trace amine-associated receptors (TAARs) determine odor detection thresholds of mice to amines. We find that deleting all TAARs, or even single TAARs, results in significant odor detection deficits. This finding is not limited to TAARs, as the deletion of a canonical odorant receptor reduced behavioral sensitivity to its preferred ligand. Remarkably, behavioral threshold is set solely by the most sensitive receptor, with no contribution from other highly sensitive receptors. In addition, increasing the number of sensory neurons (and glomeruli) expressing a threshold-determining TAAR does not improve detection, indicating that sensitivity is not limited by the typical complement of sensory neurons. Our findings demonstrate that olfactory thresholds are set by the single highest affinity receptor, and suggest that TAARs are evolutionarily conserved because they determine the sensitivity to a class of biologically relevant chemicals.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2017

Stimulus Dependent Diversity And Stereotypy In The Output Of An Olfactory Functional Unit

Olfactory inputs are organized in an array of parallel functional units (glomeruli), each relaying information from sensory neurons that express a given odorant receptor to a small population of output neurons, mitral/tufted (MT) cells. MT cells have complex temporal responses to odorants, but how these diverse responses relate to stimulus features is not known. We recorded in awake mice responses from \"sister\" MT cells that receive input from a functionally-characterized, genetically identified glomerulus, corresponding to a specific receptor (M72). Despite receiving similar inputs, sister MT cells exhibited temporally diverse, concentration variant, excitatory and inhibitory responses to most M72 ligands. In contrast, the strongest known ligand for M72 elicited temporally-stereotyped, early excitatory responses in all sister MT cells that persisted across all odor concentrations. Our data demonstrate that information about ligand affinity is encoded in the collective stereotypy or diversity of activity among sister MT cells within a glomerular functional unit in concentration-independent manner.

neuroscience↗