Histochemical patterns of lectin binding during development of the rat vomeronasal organ (VNO) were studied to determine whether glycoconjugates are differently expressed after birth. Three types of lectins, Dolichos biflorus agglutinin (DBA), wheat germ agglutinin (WGA), and Ulex europaeus agglutinin I (UEA-I), were studied histochemically in the rat VNO at various stages post-birth: postnatal days 1 and 7, the preweaning period (4 weeks after birth), and at sexual maturity (8 weeks after birth). The free border of the vomeronasal sensory epithelium was positive for both WGA and UEA-I in rats of all ages; whereas, VNO receptor cells and supporting cells were positive only for both WGA and UEA-I from 4 weeks after birth. DBA reactivity was detected in the free border but less so in receptor cells and supporting cells. WGA and UEA-I, but not DBA, showed similar patterns in various ages. In the Jacobson's gland, WGA, UEA-I and DBA were detected in some acini from 4 weeks after birth but not at postnatal days 1 or 7. Collectively, reactivity for three lectins, WGA, UEA-I and DBA, increased in receptor cells and gland acini during postnatal development, possibly contributing to the enhanced chemoreception in rats.
Animals ; Dolichos ; Epithelium ; Glycoconjugates ; Lectins ; Parturition ; Plant Lectins ; Rats ; Triticum ; Ulex ; Vomeronasal Organ

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The vomeronasal organ of the rat is a chemosensory organ located at the nasal septum. The distribution of nitroxidergic nerve fiber in olfactory system such as olfactory bulb, accessory olfactory bulb and olfactory epithelium was well documented, but vomeronasal organ which is a component of olfactory system and the receptor structure of the accessory olfactory system was rarely reported and discorded. The aim of this study was to determine the distribution and role of nitirc oxide (NO) in the rat vomeronasal organ using NADPH-diaphorase histochemistry. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Histochemical staining for NADPH-diaphorase in the rat vomeronasal organ was done. RESULTS: The NADPH-diaphorase positive reaction was observed in the blood vessels, nerve fibers around vessels and submucosal glands of vomeronasal organ. However, receptor area which is generally called the neuroepithelium and receptor free area were not seen. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that NADPH-diaphorase positive reaction shows tissue specific expression in the rat vomeronasal organ.
Animals ; Blood Vessels ; Nasal Septum ; Nerve Fibers ; Olfactory Bulb ; Olfactory Mucosa ; Rats* ; Vomeronasal Organ*

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.
Animals ; Binding Sites ; Epithelium/metabolism ; Horses/anatomy&histology/*metabolism ; Immunohistochemistry/veterinary ; Lectins/*metabolism ; Male ; Protein Binding ; Vomeronasal Organ/*metabolism

The vomeronasal organ has an important role in mammal's social and sexual behaviours. In addition, it mediates defensive behavior through detection of protein pheromone homologues. In this work, a detailed morphological description of the postnatal development of the non-sensory epithelium (NSE) lining the vomeronasal duct (VND) of the female cat is provided using various histological techniques. The study focused on newborn, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks of postnatal ages using four animals for each age. We report here for the first time that three types of NSE line the rostral segment of the VND; nonkeratinized stratified squamous epithelium, stratified cuboidal epithelium, and ciliated pseudo stratified columnar ciliated epithelium with goblet cells and that the VND undergoes 90° a change in its its axis from the vertical position caudally to the horizontal position rostral. The NSE which lines the lateral side of the VND middle segment is consists of cliated pseudostratified columnar epithelium without goblet cells. In addition to basal cells, the NSE contains ciliated and three types of nonciliated columnar epithelial cells (dark, light, and unstained). Mitotic figures were observed only in the basal cells layer during the first 2 weeks of postnatal development. Intraepithelial invading inflammatory cells were uncommon. Scanning electron microscopy revealed unevenly distributed long cilia intermingled with microvillar processes and intervening short microvillar processes. These projecting cilia and microvilli revealed a gradual increase in their height during development toward maturity.
Animals ; Cats* ; Cilia ; Epithelial Cells ; Epithelium* ; Female ; Goblet Cells ; Histological Techniques ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Microvilli ; Vomeronasal Organ*

The human nervus terminalis (terminal nerve) and the nerves to the vomeronasal organ (VNON) are both associated with the olfactory nerves and are of major interest to embryologists. However, there is still limited knowledge on their topographical anatomy in the nasal septum and on the number and distribution of ganglion cells along and near the cribriform plate of the ethmoid bone. We observed serial or semiserial sections of 30 fetuses at 7–18 weeks (crown rump length [CRL], 25–160 mm). Calretinin and S100 protein staining demonstrated not only the terminal nerve along the anterior edge of the perpendicular lamina of the ethmoid, but also the VNON along the posterior edge of the lamina. The terminal nerve was composed of 1–2 nerve bundles that passed through the anterior end of the cribriform plate, whereas the VNON consisted of 2–3 bundles behind the olfactory nerves. The terminal nerve ran along and crossed the posterior side of the nasal branch of the anterior ethmoidal nerve. Multiple clusters of small ganglion cells were found on the lateral surfaces of the ethmoid's crista galli, which are likely the origin of both the terminal nerve and VNON. The ganglions along the crista galli were ball-like and 15–20 µm in diameter and, ranged from 40–153 in unilateral number according to our counting at 21-µm-interval except for one specimen (480 neurons; CRL, 137 mm). An effect of nerve degeneration with increasing age seemed to be masked by a remarkable individual difference.
Calbindin 2 ; Ethmoid Bone ; Fetus ; Ganglion Cysts ; Humans ; Individuality ; Masks ; Nasal Septum ; Nerve Degeneration ; Neurons ; Olfactory Nerve ; Vomeronasal Organ

The vomeronasal organ (VNO) plays an important role in reproduction and social activities in ruminants including goats. A morphological study on the structure of VNO and its epithelial cells was carried out in Korean black goats. Grossly, the VNO of Korean goats opens into mouth through incisive ducts. Microscopically, the epithelium of VNO consisted of medial sensory epithelium and lateral non-sensory epithelium. Several blood vessels and nerve bundles were observed in the lamina propria encased by vomeronasal cartilage. Immunohistochemical staining showed that protein gene product (PGP) 9.5 was immunostained in the receptor cells of the sensory epithelium and in some cells of the non-sensory epithelium. Galectin-3 was mainly observed in the supporting cells of sensory and non-sensory epithelium. Lectins including wheat germ agglutinin, Ulex europaeus agglutinin, Bandeiraea simplicifolia lectin Isolectin B4, Dolichos biflorus agglutinin and soybean agglutinin used in this study were bound in VNO sensory, non-sensory epithelia as well as in the lamina propria with varying intensity. Collectively, this is a first descriptive morphological study of VNO of Korean black goat with special reference to lectin histochemistry.
Blood Vessels ; Cartilage ; Dolichos ; Epithelial Cells ; Epithelium ; Galectin 3 ; Goats ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lectins ; Mouth ; Mucous Membrane ; Plant Lectins ; Reproduction ; Ruminants ; Soybean Proteins ; Soybeans ; Triticum ; Ulex ; Vomeronasal Organ

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: An understanding of the cross-sectional structures and histological features of experimental animals is necessary for conducting the research of rhinosinusitis in experimental animals. The aim of this study is to determine the most suitable cross-sectional level of rhinosinusitis in a rat model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study examined the histological features of the mucosal epithelium, gland, lymphoid tissue, and vomeronasal organs using 4 week-old male rats weighing 60-70 g as test subjects. Whole mounted sinus-nose complexes were divided into four levels of areas which were sectioned according to the coronal plane and each section was stained with hematoxylin-eosin and observed under light microscopy. RESULTS: Level I revealed the nasal turbinate, maxilloturbinale, and nasolacrimal duct. Level II revealed the nasal turbinate, maxilloturbinale, vomeronasal organ, and nasolacrimal duct. Level III revealed the ectoturbinale I, II, endoturbinale II, III, maxillary sinus, Steno's gland, maxillary sinus gland, and nasal associated lymphoid tissue (NALT). Level IV revealed the ectoturbinale II, endoturbinale III, IV, pharyx respiratorius, and NALT. The lining epithelia were squamous, respiratory and olfactory. However, the squamous epithelium was not observed in level III and IV. CONCLUSION: The Level III appears to be the most suitable for the rhinosinusitis animal rat model since we can observe the respiratory epithelium lined sinonasal airspace including the maxillary sinus and NALT.
Animals ; Epithelium ; Humans ; Lymphoid Tissue ; Male ; Maxillary Sinus ; Microscopy ; Models, Animal ; Nasal Cavity* ; Nasolacrimal Duct ; Nose ; Paranasal Sinuses* ; Rats* ; Respiratory Mucosa ; Turbinates ; Vomeronasal Organ