Project description:We profile miRNA in sperm obtained from adult male C57 mice that had either been exposed to an Odor (F0-Exposed) or been conditioned with the Odor (Odor+mild foot-shock) (F0-Trained)
Project description:We show that infant trauma, as modeled by infant paired odor-shock conditioning, results in later life depressive-like behavior that can be modulated by learned infant cues (i.e., odor previously paired with shock). We have previously shown that this infant attachment odor learning paradigm results in the creation of a new artificial maternal odor that is able to control pup behavior and retain its value throughout development. Here, we assess the mechanism by which this artificial maternal odor is able to rescue depressive-like behavior and show that this anti-depressant like effect results in glucocorticoid and serotonin (5-HT) related changes in amygdala gene expression and is dependent on amygdala 5-HT. Furthermore, increasing amygdala 5-HT and blocking corticosterone (CORT) in the absence of odor mimics the adult rescue effects elicited by the artificial maternal odor, suggesting a mechanism by which odor presentation exerts its repair effects. There are three experimental groups: 1: pups with no infant shock and the adult forced swim test (FST)with no odor; 2. pups with infant odor-shock pairing and the adult forced swim test (FST) with no odor; 3. pups with infant odor-shock pairing and adult forced swim test with infant odor.
Project description:We show that infant trauma, as modeled by infant paired odor-shock conditioning, results in later life depressive-like behavior that can be modulated by learned infant cues (i.e., odor previously paired with shock). We have previously shown that this infant attachment odor learning paradigm results in the creation of a new artificial maternal odor that is able to control pup behavior and retain its value throughout development. Here, we assess the mechanism by which this artificial maternal odor is able to rescue depressive-like behavior and show that this anti-depressant like effect results in glucocorticoid and serotonin (5-HT) related changes in amygdala gene expression and is dependent on amygdala 5-HT. Furthermore, increasing amygdala 5-HT and blocking corticosterone (CORT) in the absence of odor mimics the adult rescue effects elicited by the artificial maternal odor, suggesting a mechanism by which odor presentation exerts its repair effects.
Project description:Animals possess inborn ability to recognize certain odors to avoid predators, seek food and find mates. Innate odor preference has been thought to be genetically hardwired. Here we report that acquisition of innate odor recognition requires spontaneous neural activity and is influenced by sensory experience during early postnatal development. Genetic silencing of mouse olfactory sensory neurons during the critical period has little impact on odor sensitivity, discrimination and recognition later in life. However, it abolishes innate odor preference and alters the patterns of activation in brain centers. Moreover, exposure to an aversive odor during the critical period abolishes aversion in adulthood in an odor specific manner. The loss of innate aversion is associated with broadened projection of OSNs. Thus, a delicate balance of neural activity is required during critical period in establishing innate odor preference and ectopic projection is a convergent mechanism to alter innate odor valence
Project description:We present a high-throughput in vivo method to identify odorant receptors responding to odorants, using phosphorylated ribosome immunoprecipitation of mRNA from olfactory epithelium of odor-stimulated mice followed by RNA-Seq. pS6-IP RNA-Seq in odor stimulated vs control mice olfactory epithelium
Project description:Phosphorylation of ribosomal protein S6 (pS6) serves as a molecular marker of neuronal activation by external stimuli. In this study, olfactory epithelium tissues were obtained from mice exposed to binary odor mixtures consisting of acetophenone–decanal or octanal–cis-3-hexenol. To examine how different delivery methods of odor presentation influence neural responses, two paradigms for binary mixtures were employed. In the “+” condition, the two odorants were directly combined on a single piece of filter paper, allowing interaction prior to volatilization. In contrast, in the “&” condition, the odorants were applied separately to two filter papers placed in close proximity (~1 mm apart), such that the components mixed only in the air upon evaporation. Using these approaches, four experimental odor groups were generated (A+D, A&D, O+C, and O&C), along with a no-odor control, resulting in a total of five groups. Following stimulation, pS6-associated ribosome complexes were isolated from olfactory epithelium lysates through immunoprecipitation, selectively enriching mRNAs undergoing active translation in odor-activated cells. RNA sequencing of these samples enabled transcriptomic profiling within activated neuronal populations, providing insights into gene expression programs associated with distinct delivery methods of binary odor stimulation.