PUBLICATION
Olfactory imprinting is correlated with changes in gene expression in the olfactory epithelia of the zebrafish
- Authors
- Harden, M.V., Newton, L.A., Lloyd, R.C., Whitlock, K.E.
- ID
- ZDB-PUB-061010-1
- Date
- 2006
- Source
- Journal of neurobiology 66(13): 1452-1466 (Journal)
- Registered Authors
- Whitlock, Kate
- Keywords
- olfaction, gene expression, development, sensory neurons, behavior
- MeSH Terms
-
- Animals
- Behavior, Animal
- Embryo, Nonmammalian
- Gene Expression/physiology*
- Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental/drug effects
- Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental/physiology*
- Imprinting, Psychological/physiology*
- In Situ Hybridization/methods
- Maze Learning/physiology
- Microarray Analysis/methods
- Odorants
- Olfactory Mucosa/cytology
- Olfactory Mucosa/physiology*
- Otx Transcription Factors/genetics
- Otx Transcription Factors/metabolism
- Time Factors
- Zebrafish/anatomy & histology
- Zebrafish/physiology
- Zebrafish Proteins/genetics
- Zebrafish Proteins/metabolism
- PubMed
- 17013923 Full text @ J. Neurobiol.
Citation
Harden, M.V., Newton, L.A., Lloyd, R.C., Whitlock, K.E. (2006) Olfactory imprinting is correlated with changes in gene expression in the olfactory epithelia of the zebrafish. Journal of neurobiology. 66(13):1452-1466.
Abstract
Odors experienced as juveniles can have significant effects on the behavior of mature organisms. A dramatic example of this occurs in salmon, where the odors experienced by developing fish determine the river to which they return as adults. Further examples of olfactory memories are found in many animals including vertebrates and invertebrates. Yet, the cellular and molecular bases underlying the formation of olfactory memory are poorly understood. We have devised a series of experiments to determine whether zebrafish can form olfactory memories much like those observed in salmonids. Here we show for the first time that zebrafish form and retain olfactory memories of an artificial odorant, phenylethyl alcohol (PEA), experienced as juveniles. Furthermore, we demonstrate that exposure to PEA results in changes in gene expression within the olfactory sensory system. These changes are evident by in situ hybridization in the olfactory epithelium of the developing zebrafish. Strikingly, our analysis by in situ hybridization demonstrates that the transcription factor, otx2, is up regulated in the olfactory sensory epithelia in response to PEA. This increase is evident at 2-3 days postfertilization and is maintained in the adult animals. We propose that the changes in otx2 gene expression are manifest as an increase in the number of neuronal precursors in the cells olfactory epithelium of the odor-exposed fish. Thus, our results reveal a role for the environment in controlling gene expression in the developing peripheral nervous system.
Genes / Markers
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping