Imaging Neuronal Responses in Slice Preparations of Vomeronasal Organ Expressing a Genetically Encoded Calcium Sensor

Abstract

The vomeronasal organ (VNO) detects chemosensory signals that carry information about the social, sexual and reproductive status of the individuals within the same species 1,2 . These intraspecies signals, the pheromones, as well as signals from some predators 3 , activate the vomeronasal sensory neurons (VSNs) with high levels of specificity and sensitivity 4 . At least three distinct families of G-protein coupled receptors, V1R, , are expressed in VNO neurons to mediate the detection of the chemosensory cues. To understand how pheromone information is encoded by the VNO, it is critical to analyze the response profiles of individual VSNs to various stimuli and identify the specific receptors that mediate these responses.The neuroepithelia of VNO are enclosed in a pair of vomer bones. The semi-blind tubular structure of VNO has one open end (the vomeronasal duct) connecting to the nasal cavity. VSNs extend their dendrites to the lumen part of the VNO, where the pheromone cues are in contact with the receptors expressed at the dendritic knobs. The cell bodies of the VSNs form pseudo-stratified layers with V1R and V2R expressed in the apical and basal layers respectively 6-8 . Several techniques have been utilized to monitor responses of VSNs to sensory stimuli 4,12,[15][16][17][18][19] . Among these techniques, acute slice preparation offers several advantages. First, compared to dissociated VSNs 3,17 , slice preparations maintain the neurons in their native morphology and the dendrites of the cells stay relatively intact. Second, the cell bodies of the VSNs are easily accessible in coronal slice of the VNO to allow electrophysiology studies and imaging experiments as compared to whole epithelium and whole-mount preparations 12,20 . Third, this method can be combined with molecular cloning techniques to allow receptor identification.Sensory stimulation elicits strong Ca 2+ influx in VSNs that is indicative of receptor activation 4,21 . We thus develop transgenic mice that express G-CaMP2 in the olfactory sensory neurons, including the VSNs 15,22 . The sensitivity and the genetic nature of the probe greatly facilitate Ca 2+ imaging experiments. This method has eliminated the dye loading process used in previous studies 4,21 . We also employ a ligand delivery system that enables application of various stimuli to the VNO slices. The combination of the two techniques allows us to monitor multiple neurons simultaneously in response to large numbers of stimuli. Finally, we have established a semi-automated analysis pipeline to assist image processing.

Integrated action of pheromone signals in promoting courtship behavior in male mice

“…We profiled the calcium response of individual VSNs using VNO slices prepared from transgenic mice expressing the genetically encoded Ca 2+ sensor GCaMP2 ( He et al, 2008 ; Ma et al, 2011 ). A population of VSNs responded robustly to EU but not NEU ( Figure 1B , Figure 1—figure supplement 1 ).…”

Two Preputial Gland-Secreted Pheromones Evoke Sexually Dimorphic Neural Pathways in the Mouse Vomeronasal System

“…The ridged upper palate tissue was peeled off to expose the nasal cavity. The anterior and posterior ends of the nasal septum were cut to extract the VNO-containing portion, which was immediately transferred to the ice-cold oxygenated mouse artificial cerebro-spinal fluid (95% O 2 /5% CO 2 ; mACSF containing 125 mM NaCl, 2.5 mM KCl, 1 mM MgCl 2 , 1.25 mM NaH 2 PO 4 , 25 mM NaHCO 3 , 2 mM CaCl 2 , 10 mM D -Glucose, pH 7.4) (Brechbühl et al, 2011; Ma et al, 2011). The cartilaginous capsule of the VNO was then removed to gain access to the luminal surface of the sensory epithelium.…”

A Population of Navigator Neurons Is Essential for Olfactory Map Formation during the Critical Period

“…CD1 pups at ages of postnatal day 0, 3, 7, and 21 were used for scRNA-Seq. Olfactory epithelia were dissected in oxygenized ACSF as described previously (Ma et al, 2011). Epithelial tissues were digested with papain solution containing DNase I. Digestion solution containing 117 mM NaCl, 5.3 mM KCl, 1.17 mM NaH 2 PO 4 , and 5.56 mM glucose was oxygenated by 95% O 2 /5% CO 2 for 5 min before adding papain (20 mg/mL; Calbiochem), 10 u RNase free DNase I (NEB) and L-cysteine (3 mg/mL; Calbiochem).…”