Ca2+-Calmodulin Feedback Mediates Sensory Adaptation and Inhibits Pheromone-Sensitive Ion Channels in the Vomeronasal Organ

The mammalian vomeronasal organ (VNO) mediates the regulation of social behaviors by complex chemical signals. These cues trigger transient elevations of intracellular Ca2+ in vomeronasal sensory neurons (VSNs), but the functional role of such Ca2+ elevations is unknown. We show that stimulus-induced Ca2+ entry plays an essential role as a negative feedback regulator of VSN sensitivity. Electrophysiological VSN responses undergo effective sensory adaptation that requires the influx of Ca2+ and is mediated by calmodulin (CaM). Removal of the Ca2+-CaM feedback eliminates this form of adaptation. A key target of this feedback module is the pheromone-sensitive TRPC2-dependent cation channel of VSNs, as its activation is strongly inhibited by Ca2+-CaM. Our results reveal a previously unrecognized CaM-signaling pathway that endows the VSNs with a mechanism for adjusting gain and sensitivity of chemosensory signaling in the VNO.