We evaluated the presence of G protein subtypes Galpha(o), Galpha(i2), and Galpha(olf) in the main olfactory system (MOS) and accessory or vomeronasal system (VNS) of Rhinella (Bufo) arenarum tadpoles, and here describe the fine structure of the sensory cells in the olfactory epithelium (OE) and vomeronasal organ (VNO). The OE shows olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs) with cilia in the apical surface, and the vomeronasal receptor neurons (VRNs) of the VNO are covered with microvilli. Immunohistochemistry detected the presence of at least two segregated populations of ORNs throughout the OE, coupled to Galpha(olf) and Galpha(o). An antiserum against Galpha(i2) was ineffective in staining the ORNs. In the VNO, Galpha(o) neurons stained strongly but lacked immunoreactivity to any other Galpha subunit in all larval stages analyzed. Western blot analyses and preabsorption experiments confirmed the specificity of the commercial antisera used. The functional significance of the heterogeneous G-protein distribution in R. arenarum tadpoles is not clear, but the study of G- protein distributions in various amphibian species is important, since this vertebrate group played a key role in the evolution of tetrapods. A more complete knowledge of the amphibian MOS and VNS would help to understand the functional organization and evolution of vertebrate chemosensory systems. This work demonstrates, for the first time, the existence of a segregated distribution of G-proteins in the OE of R. arenarum tadpoles.
Documento: | Artículo |
Título: | Heterogeneous distribution of G protein alpha subunits in the main olfactory and vomeronasal systems of Rhinella (Bufo) arenarum tadpoles. |
Autor: | Jungblut, L.D.; Paz, D.A.; López-Costa, J.J.; Pozzi, A.G. |
Filiación: | Laboratorio de Biología del Desarrollo, Instituto de Fisiología, Bioloíg Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE-CONICET) and Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires., Argentina |
Palabras clave: | guanine nucleotide binding protein alpha subunit; animal; article; larva; metabolism; olfactory system; toad; vomeronasal organ; Animals; Bufonidae; GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits; Larva; Olfactory Pathways; Vomeronasal Organ |
Año: | 2009 |
Volumen: | 26 |
Número: | 10 |
Página de inicio: | 722 |
Página de fin: | 728 |
DOI: | http://dx.doi.org/10.2108/zsj.26.722 |
Título revista: | Zoological science |
Título revista abreviado: | Zool. Sci. |
ISSN: | 02890003 |
CAS: | GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits |
Registro: | https://bibliotecadigital.exactas.uba.ar/collection/paper/document/paper_02890003_v26_n10_p722_Jungblut |