Histochemical Characterization of the Lectin-binding Sites in the Equine Vomeronasal Organ
Histochemical Characterization of the Lectin-binding Sites in the Equine Vomeronasal Organ
- Jee-young Lee, Tae-young Kang, Yong-duk Lee, Tae-kyun Shin
- 대한수의학회
- Journal of Veterinary Science
- 제4권 제1호
- 등재여부 : KCI등재
- 2003.04
- 15 - 19 (5 pages)
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.