# Genetic analysis of sexually dimorphic olfactory processing

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO · 2021 · $392,942

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
The long-term goal of this project is to determine the molecular mechanisms by which sex-determining genes
and reproductive hormones differentially regulate olfactory sensitivity in males and females. In humans,
olfactory performance is highly dependent on age and sex; women generally outperform men in smell
identification, and men are more prone to olfactory impairment as they age. Similarly, in other animal species,
select groups of odorant receptor neurons (ORNs), such as those important for pheromone detection, exhibit
sexually dimorphic characteristics as animals reach the age of sexual maturity. However, the mechanisms
underlying sexually-dimorphic neurophysiology are poorly understood.The research outlined here takes
advantage of the powerful genetic toolkit of the Drosophila olfactory system to address this complex question.
In this proposal, the first aim is to determine the generality of age-dependent sensitization in courtship-
promoting ORNs. The hypothesis that all courtship-promoting ORNs in males undergo age-dependent
sensitization will be tested using genetic, pharmacological, and functional imaging approaches. The second
aim proposes a genetic analysis of downstream effector molecules that enhance olfactory sensitivity in the
courtship-promoting ORNs. Finally, the third aim will test the hypothesis that a reproductive hormone
promotes age-dependent sensitization through its interaction with a male-specific transcription factor. Results
from these studies are expected to yield critical mechanistic insights into how sex-determining genes and
reproductive hormones jointly regulate sensory neurophysiology and olfactory processing. These insights
may
have implications in understanding sexually dimorphic neurophysiology and sex-specific proclivities for certain
neurodegenerative diseases.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10189546
- **Project number:** 5R01DC016466-05
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO
- **Principal Investigator:** Chih-Ying Su
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $392,942
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-07-01 → 2022-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10189546

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10189546, Genetic analysis of sexually dimorphic olfactory processing (5R01DC016466-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10189546. Licensed CC0.

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