title: A comparative examination of biomarkers for olfactory ensheathing cells in cats and guinea pigs.
abstract: We investigated the neurochemical characteristics of olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) in adult cats and in adult guinea pigs. Three conventional biomarkers for OECs, p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR), S100, and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), as well as two recently identified biomarkers, smooth muscle alpha-actin (SMA) and calponin, were used. We found that 1) antibodies against SMA and S100 yielded positive immunostaining of mucosal and bulbar OECs in cats and guinea pigs; 2) antibodies against GFAP gave positive immunostaining of mucosal and bulbar OECs in cats; and 3) antibodies against calponin yielded positive immunostaining of bulbar OECs in adult cats. Unexpectedly, antibodies against p75NTR failed to positively stain mucosal and bulbar OECs in cats and guinea pigs, and antibodies against GFAP and calponin failed to positively stain mucosal and bulbar OECs in guinea pigs. These findings show the importance for empirical testing of all biomarkers for OECs among different mammalian species when attempting to identify these cells in vivo, in vitro, and following intraspinal implantation.
authors.affiliation: Centre For Neuroscience Studies, Queen's University, Kingston ON, Canada K7L 3N6.
authors.forename: Laura J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Smithson
authors.forename: Michael D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Kawaja
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis*; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D002415:Cats; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D008840:Microfilament Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D009830:Olfactory Bulb / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D009831:Olfactory Mucosa / Q000294:innervation / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D009833:Olfactory Pathways / Q000648:ultrastructure; D018034:Olfactory Receptor Neurons / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D020800:Receptor, Nerve Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D009418:S100 Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D012583:Schwann Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D013045:Species Specificity; D000096985:Calponins
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D008840:Microfilament Proteins; D020800:Receptor, Nerve Growth Factor; D009418:S100 Proteins; D000096985:Calponins