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J Neurosci Res

Title:		Expression of the putative pheromone and odorant transporter vomeromodulin mRNA and protein in nasal chemosensory mucosae
Author(s):		Krishna NS; Getchell ML; Getchell TV;
Address:		"Department of Physiology, (M.L.G., T.V.G.), University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, 40536"
Journal Title:		J Neurosci Res
Year:		1994
Volume:		39
Issue:		3
Page Number:		243 - 259
DOI:		10.1002/jnr.490390303
ISSN/ISBN:		0360-4012 (Print) 0360-4012 (Linking)
Abstract:		"In nasal chemosensory systems, glandular proteins associated with the vomeronasal and olfactory epithelia perform specific perireceptor functions associated with sensory transduction. Vomeromodulin, a recently identified glycoprotein synthesized by the lateral nasal glands, is proposed to be a pheromone transporter (Khew-Goodall et al., FASEB J 5:2976-2982, 1991). In our study, we have investigated its expression in vomeronasal, olfactory, and respiratory nasal mucosae of rats and humans using in situ hybridization and immunocytochemical techniques. In the rat, vomeromodulin mRNA and protein were localized abundantly in the glandular acini of the maxillary sinus component of the lateral nasal glands. In addition, the vomeronasal and posterior glands of the nasal septum also expressed vomeromodulin mRNA and protein. Vomeromodulin immunoreactivity was localized extracellularly in the mucus of the sensory and non-sensory epithelia of the vomeronasal organ, and in the mucociliary complex of the olfactory, respiratory, and associated nasal epithelia. In human nasal mucosae, vomeromodulin immunoreactivity was localized in the mucociliary complex of the vomeronasal and respiratory epithelia. Comparison of the localization of vomeromodulin with that of odorant-binding protein, which is also synthesized in the lateral nasal glands of rats, revealed that odorant-binding protein was expressed in a completely separate glandular region, namely the ventral component. In the septal glands, vomeromodulin was expressed in the posterior glands whereas odorant-binding protein was localized in the anterior glands. Odorant-binding protein immunoreactivity was not observed in the vomeronasal glands. In contrast, both proteins were localized in the mucus of vomeronasal, olfactory, and respiratory epithelia. Our results suggest that vomeromodulin, like odorant-binding protein, functions as a chemosensory stimulus transporter associated with perireceptor processes in vomeronasal and olfactory transduction"
Keywords:		Animals Carrier Proteins/*biosynthesis Epithelial Cells Epithelium/metabolism Exocrine Glands/metabolism Glycoproteins/*biosynthesis Humans Immunohistochemistry In Situ Hybridization Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins *Membrane Transport Protei;
Notes:		"MedlineKrishna, N S Getchell, M L Getchell, T V eng NIDCD-00159/DC/NIDCD NIH HHS/ NIDCD-01715/DC/NIDCD NIH HHS/ Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S. 1994/10/15 J Neurosci Res. 1994 Oct 15; 39(3):243-59. doi: 10.1002/jnr.490390303"