Age-dependent decrease in glomeruli and receptor cells containing alpha 1-2 fucose glycan in the mouse main olfactory system but not in the vomeronasal system

作者：Kondoh Daisuke^*; Sasaki Motoki; Kitamura Nobuo

来源：Cell and Tissue Research, 2018, 373(2): 361-366.

DOI：10.1007/s00441-018-2819-9

• Lectin histochemistry
• Olfactory bulb
• Olfactory epithelium
• Postnatal change
• Vomeronasal organ

Receptor cells of the olfactory epithelium (OE) and vomeronasal organ (VNO) project axons to glomeruli in the main olfactory bulb (MOB) and accessory olfactory bulb (AOB), respectively and undergo continuous turnover throughout life. Alpha1-2 fucose (alpha 1-2Fuc) glycan mediates neurite outgrowth and synaptic plasticity and plays important roles in the formation of the olfactory system during development. We previously confirmed the localization of alpha 1-2Fuc glycan in the olfactory system of 3- to 4-month-old mice but whether such localization persists throughout life remains unknown. Here, the MOB, AOB, OE and VNO of 1-, 3- and 8-month-old mice were histochemically examined using Ulex europaeus agglutinin-I (UEA-I) that specifically binds to alpha 1-2Fuc glycan. Binding sites for UEA-I in the MOB were similar among all age groups but the ratio of UEA-I-positive glomeruli significantly decreased with aging. The frequency of UEA-I-positive receptor cells in the OE of the two older groups was also significantly lower than that of 1-month-old mice. On the other hand, UEA-I binding in the AOB and VNO did not significantly differ among all three groups. These findings suggest that the primary pathway of the main olfactory system requires the role of alpha 1-2Fuc glycan in young mice rather than old mice, while the vomeronasal pathway equally requires this glycan in both young and old mice.

• 出版日期2018-8