@article{luo_cannon_wekesa_lyman_vandenbergh_anholt_2002, title={Impaired olfactory behavior in mice deficient in the a subunit of G(0)}, volume={941}, ISSN={["0006-8993"]}, DOI={10.1016/S0006-8993(02)02566-0}, abstractNote={The ability to respond to chemical signals is essential for the survival and reproduction of most organisms. Olfactory signaling involves odorant receptor-mediated activation of G(olf), a homologue of G(s), on the dendrites of olfactory neurons. Olfactory receptor cells, however, also express Galpha(i2) and Galpha(o) on their axons, with all neurons expressing G(o) and a subset G(i2). Despite their abundance, possible contributions of G(o) and G(i2) to chemoreception remain unexplored. We investigated whether homologous recombinant mice deficient in the alpha subunit of G(o) are able to respond to odorants, whether possible olfactory impairments are dependent on genetic background, and whether formation of glomeruli in their olfactory bulbs is compromised. In an olfactory habituation/dishabituation test, G(o)-/- mice were unresponsive when exposed to odorants. Analysis of variance shows that performance of G(o)+/- mice crossed into the CD-1 background is also diminished in this test compared to their G(o)+/+ counterparts. Following food deprivation, G(o)-/- mice in the 129 Sv-ter/C57BL/6 genetic background were unable to locate a buried food pellet until they were approximately 10 weeks of age after which they performed as well as their litter mate controls. However, CD-1 G(o)-/- mice could locate a buried food pellet even when tested immediately after weaning. Despite their compromised olfactory responsiveness, histological examination did not reveal gross alterations in the olfactory bulbs of G(o)-/- mice. Thus, Galpha(o) is necessary for the expression of olfactory behavior under normal conditions and dependent on genetic background, but is not essential for the formation and maintenance of glomeruli.}, number={1-2}, journal={BRAIN RESEARCH}, author={Luo, AH and Cannon, EH and Wekesa, KS and Lyman, RF and Vandenbergh, JG and Anholt, RRH}, year={2002}, month={Jun}, pages={62–71} }
 @article{wekesa_anholt_1999, title={Differential expression of G proteins in the mouse olfactory system}, volume={837}, ISSN={["0006-8993"]}, DOI={10.1016/S0006-8993(99)01630-3}, abstractNote={Transmembrane signaling events at the dendrites and axons of olfactory receptor neurons mediate distinct functions. Whereas odorant recognition and chemosensory transduction occur at the dendritic membranes of olfactory neurons, signal propagation, axon sorting and target innervation are functions of their axons. The roles of G proteins in transmembrane signaling at the dendrites have been studied extensively, but axonal G proteins have not been investigated in detail. We used immunohistochemistry to visualize expression of α subunits of Go and Gi2 in the mouse olfactory system. Go is expressed ubiquitously on axons of olfactory receptor neurons throughout the olfactory neuroepithelium and in virtually all glomeruli in the main olfactory bulb. In contrast, expression of Gi2 is restricted to a sub-population of olfactory neurons, along the dorsal septum and the dorsal recess of the nasal cavity, which projects primarily to medial regions of the olfactory bulb, with the exception of glomeruli adjacent to the pathway of the vomeronasal nerve. In contrast to the overlapping expression patterns of Go and Gi2 in the main olfactory system, neurons expressing Go and those expressing Gi2 in the accessory olfactory bulb are more clearly separated, in agreement with previous studies. Vomeronasal axons terminating in glomeruli in the rostral region of the accessory olfactory bulb express Gi2, whereas those projecting to the caudal region express Go. Characterization of the expression patterns of Gi2 and Go in the olfactory projection is essential for future studies aimed at relating transmembrane signaling events to signal propagation, axon sorting and target innervation.}, number={1-2}, journal={BRAIN RESEARCH}, author={Wekesa, KS and Anholt, RRH}, year={1999}, month={Aug}, pages={117–126} }