Paradoxical Contribution of SK3 and GIRK Channels to the Activation of Mouse Vomeronasal Organ

The vomeronasal organ (VNO) plays an essential role in intraspecies communication for terrestrial vertebrates. The ionic mechanisms of VNO activation remain unclear. We find that the calcium–activated potassium channel SK3 and G–protein activated potassium channel GIRK are part of an independent pathway for VNO activation. In slice preparations, the potassium channels attenuate inward currents carried by TRPC2 and calcium–activated chloride channels (CACCs). In intact tissue preparations, paradoxically, the potassium channels enhance urine–evoked inward currents. This discrepancy results from the loss of a high concentration of lumenal potassium, which enables the influx of potassium ions to depolarize the VNO neurons in vivo. SK3(−/−) and GIRK1(−/−) mice show deficits in both mating and aggressive behaviors and deficiency in SK3(−/−) is exacerbated by TRPC2 knockout. Our results suggest a model of VNO activation that is mediated by TRPC2, CACCs and two potassium channels, all contributing to the in vivo depolarization of VNO neurons.