EFFECT OF URINE-DERIVED COMPOUNDS ON CAMP ACCUMULATION IN MOUSE VOMERONASAL CELLS

URINE-derived compounds from the male mouse altered the levels of the second messenger molecule cAMP differentially in female mouse vomerona sal (VN) cells when compared with olfactory cilia. cAMP levels in VN c ells increased after exposure to forskolin and GTP-gamma-S, while the levels decreased after exposure to the urine-derived compounds, dehydr o-exo-brevicomin (DHB) and 2-(secbutyl)-4,5-dihydrothiazole (SET), in a dose-dependent manner. The general odorant citronellal did not alter cAMP levels. In contrast DHB, SET and citronellal increased cAMP leve ls in olfactory cilia. We concluded that urine-derived compounds exert a differential effect on cAMP accumulation in mammalian VN and olfact ory receptor neurons.