Investigation of Ca2+-activated currents in mouse vomeronasal sensory neurons
Fri-S10-002
Presented by: Victoria K. Switacz
The accessory olfactory system of mice regulates inter-and intraspecific communication and triggers a multitude of essential behaviors. A variety of semiochemicals serve as social cues and are detected by vomeronasal sensory neurons (VSNs) in the vomeronasal organ. Activation of vomeronasal receptors (V1Rs, V2Rs, or FPR-rs) in the microvillar membrane triggers a G-protein coupled signaling cascade resulting in Ca2+ influx and signal amplification via Ca2+-activated Cl- efflux. However, our knowledge of Ca2+ signaling and its function(s) in VSNs remains limited. Therefore, we investigated Ca2+-activated channels in different VSN compartments, focusing on VSN somata. To identify and isolate currents elicited at the soma, we combined targeted Ca2+ uncaging with whole-cell patch-clamp recordings, single-cell Ca2+ imaging, and pharmacology. This approach revealed distinct Ca2+-activated potassium and chloride currents in subsets of VSNs. Notably, individual VSN current profiles appeared heterogeneous, potentially reflecting subpopulation-specific ion channel repertoires. Together, our data extend the established concept of VSN Ca2+ signaling by emphasizing additional functions of Ca2+-dependent channels in VSN somata.