Histochemical Characterization of the Lectin-binding Sites in the Equine Vomeronasal Organ.
- Author:
Jee Young LEE
1
;
Tae Young KANG
;
Yong Duk LEE
;
Tae Kyun SHIN
Author Information
1. Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cheju National University, Jeju 690-756, Korea. shint@cheju.cheju.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
lectin;
horse;
vomer onasalorgan
- MeSH:
Animals;
Binding Sites;
Epithelium/metabolism;
Horses/anatomy&histology/*metabolism;
Immunohistochemistry/veterinary;
Lectins/*metabolism;
Male;
Protein Binding;
Vomeronasal Organ/*metabolism
- From:Journal of Veterinary Science
2003;4(1):15-19
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
The binding specificities of various lectins, such as the Dolichos biflorus agglutinin (DBA), soybean agglutinin (SBA), and the Bandeiraea simplicifolia BS-1 (Isolectin B4), Triticum vulgaris (WGA), Arachis hypogaea (PNA), and Ulex europaeus (UEA-I) lectins, were studied in the vomeronasal organ of the horse. The microvilli of the vomeronasal sensory epithelium were positive for DBA, SBA, Isolectin B4, WGA, PNA, and UEA-I. The receptor cells showed intense reactivity for DBA and WGA. Lectins were not detected in the supporting cells or basal cells. The Jacobson's glands were positive for WGA and UEA-I, but lectins were absent from the nerve bundles. From these results, we postulate that several lectin-binding carbohydrates on the microvilli and neurosensory cells are associated with chemoreception in the horse. In addition, the differential lectin-binding patterns in the horse suggest that the carbohydrates present in this particular sense organ are species-specific.
