Nested expression domains for odorant receptors in zebrafish olfactory epithelium

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.93.23.13321
• Publication Date: 2002-07-26T14:34:10Z
• Authors: Franco Weth; Walter Nadler; Sigrun Korsching
• Keywords: 0301 basic medicine; Analysis of Variance; Base Sequence; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; Molecular Sequence Data; Genetic Variation; Receptors, Odorant; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Olfactory Receptor Neurons; 03 medical and health sciences; Olfactory Mucosa; Animals; Amino Acid Sequence; Cloning, Molecular; Algorithms; In Situ Hybridization; Zebrafish; DNA Primers

The mapping of high-dimensional olfactory stimuli onto the two-dimensional surface of the nasal sensory epithelium constitutes the first step in the neuronal encoding of olfactory input. We have used zebrafish as a model system to analyze the spatial distribution of odorant receptor molecules in the olfactory epithelium by quantitative in situ hybridization. To this end, we have cloned 10 very divergent zebrafish odorant receptor molecules by PCR. Individual genes are expressed in sparse olfactory receptor neurons. Analysis of the position of labeled cells in a simplified coordinate system revealed three concentric, albeit overlapping, expression domains for the four odorant receptors analyzed in detail. Such regionalized expression should result in a corresponding segregation of functional response properties. This might represent the first step of spatial encoding of olfactory input or be essential for the development of the olfactory system.