Lectin-binding patterns of the olfactory receptors (olfactory epithelium, vomeronasal organ and septal olfactory organ of Masera) in the rat

Abstract

Lectin-binding patterns of the three olfactory receptors, olfactory epithelium (OE), vomeronasal organ (VNO) and septal olfactory organ of Masera (MO), and their associated glands, Bowman's gland (BG) of the OE, Jacobson's gland (JG) of the VNO, and anonymous gland (MG) of the MO were examined in the rat with 21 biotinylated lectins. On the free surface of the receptors, all lectins showed moderate to intense staining in at least one of receptors, although PHA-E in the VNO, BSL II and PNA in the MO, and DBA, BSL I, VVA, SJA, PSA and LCA in both the OE and the MO showed no staining. In the soma of receptor neurons, 16 lectins showed staining in at least one of receptors, although SJA showed no staining in both the OE and the MO, and BSL I showed staining in a small number of cells in these receptors. In the associated glands, 15 lectins showed staining in at least one of them, although PNA in the JG, LEL in the MG, and s-WGA and DBA in both the BG and the MG showed no staining. These findings suggest that the VNO takes charge of an olfactory discrimination different from that of the OE and MO, although the latter two take charge of that similar to each other.