Heme oxygenase-2 and nitric oxide synthase immunoreactivity of bovine olfactory receptor neurons and a comparison with the distribution of NADPH-diaphorase staining.
It has recently been suggested that, in addition to nitric oxide (NO), carbon monoxide (CO) is an important gaseous messenger which might be involved in vertebrate olfactory transduction because its effects include activation of guanylyl cyclase and the formation of cGMP. As there is no information regarding the presence of heme oxygenase-2 -- the constitutive isoform of the heme oxygenase system -- in olfactory neurons of non-rodent species, we have investigated the distribution pattern of heme oxygenase-2 in the olfactory epithelium of the bovine, a representative of macrosmatics. Localization of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-diaphorase (NADPH-d) activity of the olfactory epithelium was compared with heme oxygenase-2 and NO synthase (NOS) immunoreactivities in order to obtain possible hints at functional significance. NADPH-d activity was particularly intense in apical dendrites of receptor neurons. It was also found in Bowman glands and intraepithelial duct cells. Less intense, discrete NADPH-d activity was present also at intermediate and basal levels of the olfactory epithelium, corresponding to the layer of receptor neuron somata and basal cells. While heme oxygenase-2 activity mainly occurred in neuronal perikarya, a very intense NOS immunoreactivity, exclusively for the inducible isoform, was detected in the apical dendrites. Ultrastructurally, NADPH-d histochemistry showed distinct labelling of membranes, in particular of endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria and nucleus. The coincident localization of the moderate NADPH-d activity and heme oxygenase-2 immunoreactivity in receptor cell perikarya suggest a functional association between NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase and heme oxygenase-2. In contrast, dendritic localization of NADPH-d activity is topically and possibly functionally related to the presence of the inducible isoform of NOS. The results suggest that both CO and NO may be generated in bovine receptor neurons and thus involved in odorant stimulation. Based on immunocytochemical localization of synthesizing enzymes, NO might be regarded as a direct regulator of transduction related processes while CO might act as a modulator of the initial signal.
Wenisch
S
S
Institute of Veterinary Anatomy, Histology and Embryology Justus-Liebig-University, Giessen, Germany.
Andressen
C
C
Derouiche
A
A
Arnhold
S
S
Addicks
K
K
Leiser
R
R
D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D006419:Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing) / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D009252:NADPH Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism*; D009300:Nasal Septum / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism*; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; D018034:Olfactory Receptor Neurons / Q000201:enzymology*
D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; D006419:Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing); C105245:heme oxygenase-2; D009252:NADPH Dehydrogenase