Alarm pheromones (APs) are widely used throughout the plant and animal kingdoms. Species such as fish, insects, mammals signal danger to conspecifics by releasing volatile alarm molecules. Thus far, neither chemicals, their bodily source, nor sensory system involved in detection have been isolated or identified mammals. We found that APs recognized Grueneberg ganglion (GG), a recently discovered olfactory subsystem. showed with electron microscopy GG neurons bear primary cilia, cell bodies...

Sensing the chemical warnings present in environment is essential for species survival. In mammals, this form of danger communication occurs via release natural predator scents that can involuntarily warn prey or by production alarm pheromones stressed alerting its conspecifics. Although we previously identified olfactory Grueneberg ganglion as sensory organ through which mammalian signal a threatening situation, nature these cues remains elusive. We here identify, analysis combination with...

The activation of a cyclic nucleotide–gated channel is the final step in sensory transduction olfaction. Normally, this opened by intracellular nucleotide second messenger cAMP or cGMP. However, single recordings we found that donors nitric oxide, putative intercellular messenger, could directly activate native olfactory neuron channel. Its action was independent presence normal ligand and did not involve binding site, suggesting an alternate site on molecule critical gating. biochemical...

Restrictions on the use of bisphenol A (BPA) in consumer products led to its replacement by various (BP) analogues, yet young children's exposure these analogues has been poorly characterized so far. This study aimed characterize infants' and toddlers' BPA 14 emerging BP (i.e., AF, AP, B, BP, C (BPC), E, F (BPF), G, M (BPM), P, PH, S (BPS), TMC, Z). We extracted urine from diapers (

The fluorescent indicator of nitric oxide (NO), 4,5‐diaminofluorescein (DAF‐2), and its membrane‐permeable derivative (DAF‐2 diacetate) have been recently developed to perform real‐time biological imaging NO. In this study, we show that DAF‐2 is strongly influenced by factors other than the concentration NO itself. Using measurements with a fluorimeter as well fluorescence microscopy, found divalent cation in medium, incident light, affects ability detect Calcium, particular, enhanced signal...

Cyclic nucleotide-gated channels are important in visual and olfactory transduction, possibly other neuronal functions. These have a complex permeability to Ca2+ ions that may be their cellular They composed of two different subunits, α β, been cloned expressed, but the β subunit alone cannot activated by cyclic nucleotides, confounding analysis its characteristics. However, we found nitric oxide can activate homomeric expressed subunit, resulting channel possesses many properties L-type...

In the mouse, Grueneberg ganglion (GG) is an olfactory subsystem implicated both in chemo- and thermo-sensing. It specifically involved recognition of volatile danger cues such as alarm pheromones structurally-related predator scents. No evidence for these GG sensory functions has been reported yet other rodent species. this study, we used a combination histological physiological techniques to verify presence investigate its function rat, hamster gerbil comparing with mouse. By scanning...

The mouse Grueneberg ganglion (GG) is an olfactory subsystem specialized in the detection of volatile heterocyclic compounds signalling danger. pathways transducing danger signals are only beginning to be characterized. Screening chemical libraries for structurally resembling already-identified GG ligands, we found a new category chemicals previously identified as bitter tastants that initiated fear-related behaviours mice depending on their volatility and evoked neuronal responses neurons....

The mouse Grueneberg ganglion (GG) is an olfactory subsystem located at the tip of nose close to entry naris. It comprises neurons that are both sensitive cold temperature and play important role in detection alarm pheromones. This chemical modality may be essential for species survival. Interestingly, GG display atypical mammalian morphology with bearing deeply invaginated cilia mostly covered by ensheathing glial cells. We had previously noticed their morphological resemblance chemosensory...

The ability to efficiently search for food is fundamental animal survival. Olfactory messages are used find while being aware of the impending risk predation. How these different olfactory clues combined optimize decision-making concerning selection remains elusive. Here, we that chemical danger cues drive in mice via activation a specific subsystem, Grueneberg ganglion (GG). We show functional GG required decipher threatening quality an unfamiliar food. also increase corticosterone, which...

Abstract COVID-19 pandemic has given rise to a collective scientific effort study its viral causing agent SARS-CoV-2. Research is focusing in particular on infection mechanisms and the associated-disease symptoms. Interestingly, this environmental pathogen directly affects human chemosensory systems leading anosmia ageusia. Evidence for presence of cellular entry sites virus, ACE2/TMPRSS2 proteins, been reported non-chemosensory cells rodent’s nose mouth, missing direct correlation between...

In the wild, animals have developed survival strategies relying on their senses. The individual ability to identify threatening situations is crucial and leads increase in overall fitness of species. Rodents, for example nasal cavities specialized olfactory neurons implicated detection volatile cues encoding impending danger such as predator scents or alarm pheromones. particular, Grueneberg ganglion (GG), an subsystem, are sharing a similar chemical signature, heterocyclic sulfur-...

Peter Karlson and Martin Lüscher used the term pheromone for first time in 1959 to describe chemicals intra-species communication. Pheromones are volatile or non-volatile short-lived molecules secreted and/or contained biological fluids, such as urine, a liquid known be main source of pheromones. Pheromonal communication is implicated variety key animal modalities kin interactions, hierarchical organisations sexual interactions consequently directly correlated with survival given species. In...

Carrying out exposure studies on children who are not toilet trained is challenging because of the difficulty urine sampling. In this study, we optimized a protocol for collection from disposable diapers analysis phthalate metabolites. The Swiss (n = 113) between 6 months and 3 years life to seven phthalates was assessed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry measurements. study showed limited exposures phthalates, with only 22% samples containing some metabolites investigated. three most...

Abstract COVID-19 pandemic has given rise to a collective scientific effort study its viral causing agent SARS-CoV-2. Research is focusing in particular on infection mechanisms and the associated-disease symptoms. Interestingly, this environmental pathogen directly affects human chemosensory systems leading anosmia ageusia. Evidence for presence of cellular entry sites virus, ACE2/TMPRSS2 proteins, been reported non-chemosensory cells rodent’s nose mouth, missing direct correlation between...

In the wild, mice have developed survival strategies to detect volatile cues that warn them of potential danger. Specific olfactory neurons found in Grueneberg ganglion subsystem can alarm pheromones emitted by stressed conspecifics, as well kairomones involuntarily released their predators. These chemical allow intra- and interspecies communication danger, respectively. Alarm pheromones, bitter taste ligands share a common motif containing sulfur or nitrogen. Interestingly, three specific...