In mammals, initial detection of olfactory stimuli is mediated by sensory neurons in the main olfactory epithelium (MOE) and the vomeronasal organ (VNO). The heterotrimeric GTP-binding protein G o is widely expressed in the MOE and VNO of mice. Early studies indicated that G o expression in VNO sensory neurons is critical for directing social and sexual behaviors in female mice [Oboti L, et al. (2014) BMC Biol 12:31]. However, the physiological functions of G o in the MOE have remained poorly defined. Here, we examined the role of G o in the MOE using mice lacking the α subunit of G o . Development of the olfactory bulb (OB) was perturbed in mutant mice as a result of reduced neurogenesis and increased cell death. The balance between cell types of OB interneurons was altered in mutant mice, with an increase in the number of tyrosine hydroxylase-positive interneurons at the expense of calbindin-positive interneurons. Sexual behavior toward female mice and preference for female urine odors by olfactory sensory neurons in the MOE were abolished in mutant male mice. Our data suggest that G o signaling is essential for the structural and functional integrity of the MOE and for specification of OB interneurons, which in turn are required for the transmission of pheromone signals and the initiation of mating behavior with the opposite sex.heterotrimeric G o protein | olfactory mucosa | olfactory bulb interneuron | tyrosine monooxygenase | sexual behavior P heromones evoke diverse social and sexual behaviors in animals of the same species. In mammals, initial detection of olfactory stimuli is mediated by sensory neurons in the main olfactory epithelium (MOE) and vomeronasal organ (VNO). Early studies indicated that the VNO is largely responsible for the detection of pheromones and the consequent direction of social and sexual behaviors (1). VNO sensory neurons (VSNs) express distinct types of vomeronasal receptors: type 1 (V1Rs) in the apical region and type 2 (V2Rs) in the basal region. These receptors couple, respectively, to G i and G o members of the heterotrimeric GTPbinding protein family. It has been suggested that, following ligand binding to V1Rs and V2Rs, the Gβγ subunits released from G i and G o activate phospholipase C and increase the intracellular concentration of Ca 2+ . Ca 2+ ions induce opening of small Ca 2+ -activated K + (SK3) channels, subsequently activating Ca 2+ -activated Cl − channels (CACCs). In the VNO, Gβγ can also directly induce the opening of G protein-activated inward rectifying K + (GIRK) channels independently of transient receptor potential cation channel C2 (TRPC2) (2). Because of the VNO's high luminal K + concentration (2), opening of SK3 and GIRK channels leads to depolarization of VSNs and transmission of pheromone signals. Targeted deletion of the TRPC2 gene abrogates gender identification and intermale aggression without affecting male-to-female mating behavior in male mice (3, 4). Targeted deletion of the GIRK1 gene partially attenuates mating behavior of the male toward fem...