At least two different G-protein-mediated transduction cascades, the adenylate cyclase and phospholipase C (PLC) pathway, process chemosensory stimuli for various species. In squid olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs), physiological studies indicate that both pathways may be present; however, confirmation of the transduction molecules at the protein level is absent. Here we provide evidence that the G-proteins involved in both adenylate cyclase and PLC pathways are present in squid ORNs (Lolliguncula brevis). We used immunoblotting to show that G␣ olf , G␣ q , and a downstream effector, enzyme PLC140, are present in the squid olfactory epithelium (OE). To localize these proteins to one or more of the five morphological cell types described for squid OE, paraformaldehyde-fixed olfactory organs were cryosectioned (10 m), double-labeled for G␣ olf , G␣ q , or PLC140, and imaged. Analysis of serial sections from entire olfactory organs for epithelial area and patterns of immunofluorescence revealed a region of highest immunoreactivity at the anterior half of the organ. At the cellular level, type 1 cells could not be distinguished morphologically and were not included in the analysis. The three labeling patterns observed in type 2 cells were G␣ q alone, PLC140 alone, and colocalization of G␣ q and PLC140. Subsets of cell types 3, 4, and 5 showed colocalization of G␣ olf with G␣ q but not with PLC140. These data suggest that the PLC pathway predominates in type 2 cells; however, coexpression of G␣ olf with G␣ q in cell types 3, 4, and 5 suggests that both pathways may participate in olfactory transduction in non-type 2 squid ORNs. J. Comp. Neurol. 501:231-242, 2007.

In mouse olfactory epithelium (OE), pituitary adenylate cyclase activating peptide (PACAP) protects against axotomy-induced apoptosis. We used mouse OE to determine whether PACAP protects neurons during exposure to the inflammatory cytokine TNFα. Live slices of neonatal mouse OE were treated with 40 ng/ml TNFα ± 40 nM PACAP for 6 hours and dying cells were live-labeled with 0.5% propidium iodide. TNFα significantly increased the percentage of dying cells while coincubation with PACAP prevented cell death. PACAP also prevented TNFα-mediated cell death in the olfactory placodal (OP) cell lines, OP6 and OP27. Although OP cell lines express all three PACAP receptors (PAC1, VPAC1,VPAC2), PACAP's protection of these cells from TNFα was mimicked by the specific PAC1 receptor agonist maxadilan and abolished by the PAC1 antagonist PACAP6-38. Treatment of OP cell lines with blockers or activators of the PLC and AC/MAPKK pathways revealed that PACAP-mediated protection from TNFα involved both pathways. PACAP may therefore function through PAC1 receptors to protect neurons from cell death during inflammatory cytokine release in vivo as would occur upon viral infection or allergic rhinitis-associated injury.