The neural basis of CO2 detection in olfactory neurons

• Grant number: 23/02716-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate (Direct)
• Start date: September 01, 2023
• End date: August 31, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Physiology
• Principal Investigator: Thiago dos Santos Moreira
• Grantee: Phelipe Eduardo Silva
• Supervisor: Sandeep Robert Datta
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Harvard University, Boston, United States
• Associated to the scholarship: 21/09377-6 - Contribution of the sensorial olfactory neurons in the hypercapnia and hypoxia ventilatory response in conscious mice, BP.DD

Abstract

Guanylyl cyclase D positive (GCD+) neurons are a specialized set of olfactory sensory system. They are thought to play a key role in mediating innate odor preferences, learning and in the CO2 olfactory sensing. GCD+ neurons from olfactory epithelium project their axons to the necklace glomeruli, in the caudal olfactory bulb (OB). They also express other essential components in the CO2 olfactory detection like phosphodiesterase 2A (PDE2A) and carbonic anidrase II (CAII+). Recent studies have shown that the CO2 olfactory sensing is a key indicator of potential danger or food sources. However, the neural basis of the CO2 olfactory detection and their secondary responses remains poorly understood. In this study, we aim to investigate the neural mechanisms underlying CO2 detection in olfactory GC-D+ PDE2A+ CAII+ neurons using a combination of imaging, neuroanatomical and electrophysiological techniques. (AU)