Olfactory subsystems in the peripheral olfactory organ of anuran amphibians

Jungblut, Lucas D.; Reiss, John O.; Pozzi, Andrea G.

doi:10.1007/s00441-020-03330-6

Cited by 9 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 88 publications

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“…Although their anuran ancestors lived their adults lives out of the water, these species have adapted to aquatic life with numerous specializations over the last 140 million years or more [1,2]. These include specializations to the olfactory system to allow adult animals to separately sample both airborne and waterborne stimuli [3][4][5][6][7]. Adult X. laevis have two chambers within the nose with a valve at the external naris that allows either the air nose to be open when above water, or the water nose to be open below the surface (Fig 1A).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Adult X. laevis have two chambers within the nose with a valve at the external naris that allows either the air nose to be open when above water, or the water nose to be open below the surface (Fig 1A). The air nose, or principal cavity, connects to the respiratory tract and contains an olfactory epithelium similar to that seen in all adult anurans; it may be used to find new ponds during overland migration [3][4][5][6]. Also similar to other anurans, X. laevis have a vomeronasal organ at the base of the principal cavity and adjacent to the choana (the opening that connects the oral cavity with the principal nasal cavity) which likely samples waterborne chemicals originating from the nasolacrimal duct or the choana [4][5][6].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Electrophysiological responses to conspecific odorants in Xenopus laevis show potential for chemical signaling

Rhodes

Amo

2022

PLoS ONE

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The fully aquatic African clawed frog, Xenopus laevis, has an unusual and highly adapted nose that allows it to separately sample both airborne and waterborne stimuli. The function of the adult water nose has received little study, despite the fact that it is quite likely to receive information about conspecifics through secretions released into the water and could aid the frog in making decisions about social and reproductive behaviors. To assess the potential for chemical communication in this species, we developed an in situ electroolfactogram preparation and tested the olfactory responses of adult males to cloacal fluids and skin secretions from male and female conspecifics. We found robust olfactory responses to all conspecific stimuli, with greatest sensitivity to female cloacal fluids. These results open the door to further testing to identify compounds within cloacal fluids and skin secretions that are driving these responses and examine behavioral responses to those compounds. Understanding the role of chemical communication in social and reproductive behaviors may add to our rich understanding of vocal communication to create a more complete picture of social behavior in this species.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Electrophysiological responses to conspecific odorants in Xenopus laevis show potential for chemical signaling

Rhodes

Amo

2022

PLoS ONE

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“…Tadpoles of most anuran amphibians share a similarly structured olfactory periphery, consisting of the main olfactory epithelium in the principal nasal cavity (PC), a vomeronasal organ (VNO), as well as some minor additional epithelial surfaces (Jungblut et al 2021 ; Weiss et al 2021 ). This is well documented for all major groups of anurans: Archaeobatrachians (Benzekri and Reiss 2012 ), Mesobatrachians (Manzini and Schild 2010 ) and Neobatrachians (Jermakowicz et al 2004 ; Jungblut et al 2011 , 2017 ; Nowack and Vences 2016 ; Quinzio and Reiss 2018 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Distinct interhemispheric connectivity at the level of the olfactory bulb emerges during Xenopus laevis metamorphosis

et al. 2021

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During metamorphosis, the olfactory system of anuran tadpoles undergoes substantial restructuring. The main olfactory epithelium in the principal nasal cavity of Xenopus laevis tadpoles is associated with aquatic olfaction and transformed into the adult air-nose, while a new adult water-nose emerges in the middle cavity. Impacts of this metamorphic remodeling on odor processing, behavior, and network structure are still unexplored. Here, we used neuronal tracings, calcium imaging, and behavioral experiments to examine the functional connectivity between the epithelium and the main olfactory bulb during metamorphosis. In tadpoles, olfactory receptor neurons in the principal cavity project axons to glomeruli in the ventral main olfactory bulb. These projections are gradually replaced by receptor neuron axons from the newly forming middle cavity epithelium. Despite this reorganization in the ventral bulb, two spatially segregated odor processing streams remain undisrupted and behavioral responses to waterborne odorants are unchanged. Contemporaneously, new receptor neurons in the remodeling principal cavity innervate the emerging dorsal part of the bulb, which displays distinct wiring features. Glomeruli around its midline are innervated from the left and right nasal epithelia. Additionally, postsynaptic projection neurons in the dorsal bulb predominantly connect to multiple glomeruli, while half of projection neurons in the ventral bulb are uni-glomerular. Our results show that the “water system” remains functional despite metamorphic reconstruction. The network differences between the dorsal and ventral olfactory bulb imply a higher degree of odor integration in the dorsal main olfactory bulb. This is possibly connected with the processing of different odorants, airborne vs. waterborne.

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“…Tadpoles of most anuran amphibians share a similarly structured olfactory periphery, consisting of the main olfactory epithelium in the principal nasal cavity (PC), a vomeronasal organ (VNO), as well as some minor additional epithelial surfaces (Jungblut et al, 2021; Weiss et al, 2021). This is well documented for all major groups of anurans: Archaeobatrachians (Benzekri and Reiss, 2012), Mesobatrachians (Manzini and Schild, 2010) and Neobatrachians (Jermakowicz et al, 2004; Jungblut et al, 2011, 2017; Nowack and Vences, 2016; Quinzio and Reiss, 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Distinct interhemispheric connectivity at the level of the olfactory bulb emerges during Xenopus laevis metamorphosis

Weiß

Arias

Offner

et al. 2021

Preprint

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The olfactory system of anuran tadpoles requires substantial restructuring to adapt to the lifestyle of the adult frogs. Xenopus laevis tadpoles have a single main olfactory epithelium in the principal nasal cavity associated with aquatic olfaction. After metamorphosis, this epithelial surface is transformed into the adult air-nose and a new epithelium, the adult water-nose, is present in the middle cavity. Impacts of this massive remodeling on odor processing, behavior and network structure are still unexplored. In the present study, we used neuronal tracings, calcium imaging and a behavioral assay to examine the functional connectivity between the epithelium and the main olfactory bulb during metamorphosis. In tadpoles, olfactory receptor neurons in the principal cavity epithelium project axons to glomeruli in the ventral main olfactory bulb. During metamorphosis, these projections are gradually replaced by receptor neuron axons emerging from the newly forming middle cavity epithelium. Despite this metamorphotic reorganization in the ventral bulb, two spatially and functionally segregated odor processing streams remain undisrupted. In line with this, metamorphotic rewiring does not alter behavioral responses to waterborne odorants. Contemporaneously, newly formed receptor neurons in the remodeling principal cavity epithelium project their axons to the dorsal part of the bulb. The emerging neuronal networks of the dorsal and ventral main olfactory bulb show substantial differences. Glomeruli around the midline of the dorsal bulb are innervated from the left and right nasal epithelia. In addition, postsynaptic projection neurons in the dorsal bulb predominantly have smaller tufts and connect to multiple glomeruli, while more than half of projection neurons in the ventral bulb have a single, bigger tuft. Our results show that during the metamorphotic reconstruction of the olfactory network the water system remains functional. Differences of the neuronal network of the dorsal and ventral olfactory bulb imply that a higher degree of odor integration takes place in the dorsal main olfactory bulb. This is likely connected with the processing of different odorants, airborne vs. waterborne, in these two parts of the olfactory bulb.

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Olfactory subsystems in the peripheral olfactory organ of anuran amphibians

Cited by 9 publications

References 88 publications

Electrophysiological responses to conspecific odorants in Xenopus laevis show potential for chemical signaling

Electrophysiological responses to conspecific odorants in Xenopus laevis show potential for chemical signaling

Distinct interhemispheric connectivity at the level of the olfactory bulb emerges during Xenopus laevis metamorphosis

Distinct interhemispheric connectivity at the level of the olfactory bulb emerges during Xenopus laevis metamorphosis

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