Open AccessEffects of urea on the olfactory reception in zebrafish (Danio rerio)
Author(s) -
Lorenzo Gallus,
Emiliano Marchesotti,
Sonia Scarfı̀,
Andrea Amaroli,
Valeria Franceschini,
Ghulam Abbas,
Chiara Gambardella,
Sara Ferrando
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of biological research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.218
H-Index - 6
eISSN - 2284-0230
pISSN - 1826-8838
DOI - 10.4081/jbr.2016.5868
Subject(s) - olfactory epithelium , danio , urea , olfactory receptor , olfactory system , olfaction , biology , uremia , receptor , anosmia , olfactory mucosa , zebrafish , medicine , endocrinology , chemistry , biochemistry , neuroscience , disease , covid-19 , infectious disease (medical specialty) , gene
The effects of uremia on human olfactory functions have been clinically evaluated in various studies, even if to date it is not completely clarified which uremic toxins mediate these processes. Surprisingly, the role of the main molecule involved in uremia, urea indeed, has not been adequately investigated as other possible molecules may also be involved in uremic anosmia. The effects of urea on the olfaction have been evaluated in some clinical studies, but this is the first attempt to determine a direct action of urea on the olfactory epithelium of a vertebrate. Danio rerio adults were exposed to urea in different experiments to assess the effects on olfactory sensitivity and signal transduction. The analysis of the swimming speed has been used to evaluate the response to hypoxanthine 3-N-oxide (H3NO), a molecule that is known to elicit an olfactory-mediated alarm reaction in D. rerio. The presence and distribution of the G protein alpha subunit coupled to the olfactory receptors (Gαolf) has been immunohistochemically investigated in the olfactory epithelium of control and urea-exposed D. rerio. Our findings showed that urea alters the response to H3NO of D. rerio with a quite rapid and reversible effect that appears to be independent from a mere interference of urea on the receptor-ligand binding. The Gαolf protein resulted increases after urea treatment, suggesting an effect of urea on its expression or degradation