title: Human blood group antigen H is not the specific marker for type I cells in the taste buds.
abstract: We examined the localization of human blood antigen H (AbH) and its correlation with other cell type markers in the taste buds of circumvallate papillae of the adult rat. Immunoreactivity for AbH was localized in the membrane of two cell populations in the taste buds: in spindle-shaped cells extending from base to the apical portion of the taste buds as well as in round-shaped cells at the basal portion of the taste buds. Quantitative analysis revealed that approximately 47.8%, 24.4%, and 14.6% of cells within the taste buds displayed AbH-, alpha-gustducin- or protein gene product 9.5 (PGP 9.5)-immunoreactivity, respectively. Approximately 16.3% and 6.6% of AbH-immunoreactive taste bud cells displayed alpha-gustducin- or PGP 9.5-immunoreactivity, respectively. Although previous studies proposed that AbH immunoreactivity was specific for type I cells (dark cells or supporting cells), the present results indicate that AbH immunoreactivity is also present in some type II cells (alpha-gustducin immunoreactive cells) and type III cells (PGP 9.5-immunoreactive cells).
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Suita, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Katsura
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ueda
authors.forename: Masae
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fujii
authors.forename: Ashraf
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: El-Sharaby
authors.forename: Shiho
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Honma
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wakisaka
mesh_terms: D000017:ABO Blood-Group System / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D013650:Taste Buds / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D015293:Transducin / Q000032:analysis; D043222:Ubiquitin Thiolesterase / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000017:ABO Blood-Group System; D015415:Biomarkers; C482860:UCHL1 protein, human; C075192:gustducin; C489034:UCHL1 protein, rat; D043222:Ubiquitin Thiolesterase; D015293:Transducin