Sex separation induces differences in the olfactory sensory receptor repertoires of male and female mice

Nat Commun. 2018 Dec 4;9(1):5081. doi: 10.1038/s41467-018-07120-1.

Abstract

Within the mammalian olfactory sensory epithelium, experience-dependent changes in the rate of neuronal turnover can alter the relative abundance of neurons expressing specific chemoreceptors. Here we investigate how the mouse olfactory sensory receptor repertoire changes as a function of exposure to odors emitted from members of the opposite sex, which are highly complex and sexually dimorphic. Upon housing mice either sex-separated or sex-combined until six months of age, we find that sex-separated mice exhibit significantly more numerous differentially expressed genes within their olfactory epithelia. A subset of these chemoreceptors exhibit altered expression frequencies following both sex-separation and olfactory deprivation. We show that several of these receptors detect either male- or female-specific odors. We conclude that the distinct odor experiences of sex-separated male and female mice induce sex-specific differences in the abundance of neurons that detect sexually dimorphic odors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Behavior, Animal
  • Female
  • Gene Expression
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Odorants
  • Olfactory Mucosa / metabolism
  • Olfactory Receptor Neurons / metabolism*
  • Receptors, Odorant / genetics
  • Receptors, Odorant / metabolism
  • Sex Characteristics*
  • Sexual Behavior, Animal / physiology*
  • Smell / physiology*

Substances

  • Receptors, Odorant