PUBLICATION
Amino acid odorants stimulate microvillar sensory neurons
- Authors
- Lipschitz, D.L. and Michel, W.C.
- ID
- ZDB-PUB-020403-16
- Date
- 2002
- Source
- Chemical senses 27(3): 277-286 (Journal)
- Registered Authors
- Michel, William C.
- Keywords
- none
- MeSH Terms
-
- Amino Acids*
- Animals
- Immunohistochemistry
- Microscopy, Electron
- Neurons/physiology*
- Neurons/ultrastructure
- Odorants*
- Zebrafish/physiology*
- PubMed
- 11923189 Full text @ Chem. Senses
Citation
Lipschitz, D.L. and Michel, W.C. (2002) Amino acid odorants stimulate microvillar sensory neurons. Chemical senses. 27(3):277-286.
Abstract
The olfactory epithelium (OE) of zebrafish is populated with ciliated and microvillar olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs). Whether distinct classes of odorants specifically activate either of these unique populations of OSNs is unknown. Previously we demonstrated that zebrafish OSNs could be labeled in an activity-dependent fashion by amino acid but not bile acid odorants. To determine which sensory neuron type was stimulated by amino acid odorants, we labeled OSNs using the ion channel permeant probe agmatine (AGB) and analyzed its distribution with conventional light- and electron-microscope immunocytochemical techniques. Approximately 7% of the sensory epithelium was labeled by AGB exposure alone. Following stimulation with one of the eight amino acids tested, the proportion of labeled epithelium increased from 9% for histidine to 19% for alanine; amino acid stimulated increases in labeling of 2-12% over control labeling. Only histidine failed to stimulate a significant increase in the proportion of labeled OSNs compared to control preparations. Most amino acid sensitive OSNs were located superficially in the epithelium and immuno-electron microscopy demonstrated that the labeled OSNs were predominately microvillar. Large numbers of nanogold particles (20-60 per 1.5 μm(2)) were associated with microvillar olfactory sensory neurons (MSNs), while few such particles (<15 per 1.5 μm(2)) were observed over ciliated olfactory sensory neurons (CSNs), supporting cells (SCs) and areas without tissue, such as the lumen above the OE. Collectively, these findings indicate that microvillar sensory neurons are capable of detecting amino acid odorants.
Genes / Markers
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping