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bioRxiv · 10.1101/867044

Semiochemical responsive olfactory sensory neurons are sexually dimorphic and plastic

Vihani, A.·Hu, X. S.·Gundala, S.·Koyama, S.·Block, E.·Matsunami, H.
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Abstract

AbstractUnderstanding how genes and experiences work in concert to generate phenotypic variability will provide a better understanding of individuality. Here, we considered this in the context of the main olfactory epithelium, a chemosensory structure with over a thousand distinct cell-types, in mice. We identified a subpopulation of at least three types of olfactory sensory neurons, defined by receptor expression, whose abundances were sexually dimorphic. This subpopulation of olfactory sensory neurons was over-represented in sex-separated female mice and responded robustly to the male-specific semiochemicals 2-sec-butyl-4,5-dihydrothaizole and (methylthio)methanethiol. Sex-combined housing led to a robust attenuation of the female over-representation. Testing of Bax null mice revealed a Bax-dependence in generating the sexual dimorphism in sex-separated mice. Altogether, our results suggest a profound role of experience in influencing homeostatic neural lifespan mechanisms to generate a robust sexually dimorphic phenotype in the main olfactory epithelium.

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Vihani, A., Hu, X. S., Gundala, S., Koyama, S., Block, E., Matsunami, H.. 2019-12-06. Semiochemical responsive olfactory sensory neurons are sexually dimorphic and plastic. https://doi.org/10.1101/867044

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