Co-expression of putative pheromone receptors in the sensory neurons of the vomeronasal organ.

ABSTRACT: Two large and divergent families of G-protein-coupled receptors (V1Rs and V2Rs) are expressed in subsets of neurons in the vomeronasal organ. These receptors are likely to mediate pheromone responses, but it appears that many V2R genes may encode expressed pseudogenes rather than functional proteins. Therefore we have raised antibodies to representative V2Rs and show labeling of vomeronasal neurons demonstrating that V2R genes encode expressed receptors. V2R immunoreactivity was detected at the sensory surface of the vomeronasal organ in dendritic terminals, indicating that these receptors are capable of directly interacting with pheromones and mediating physiological responses. Immunohistochemistry confirmed that three V2R receptors are expressed in small subsets of sensory neurons. Howev

SUBMITTER: Martini S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6762303 | biostudies-literature | 2001 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature