title: Galectin-3 immunohistochemistry in the vomeronasal organ of the domestic pig, Sus scrofa.
abstract: The immunohistochemical localization of galectin-3, a β-galactoside-binding protein, was studied in the vomeronasal organ (VNO) of fetal, 1-day-old, and 6-month-old pigs. In all age groups, the porcine VNO consisted of vomeronasal sensory epithelium (VSE) located medially and non-sensory vomeronasal respiratory epithelium (VRE) located laterally. In the pig, the VNO epithelium increased in height with postnatal development from fetus to adult. In the VSE of all stages examined, galectin-3 immunostaining was seen in the supporting cells and free border, but not in receptor or basal cells. Galectin-3 immunostaining was seen in all layers of the VRE, and the intensity increased with postnatal development. In the lamina propria, galectin-3 was detected in some ductal epithelial cells and the vomeronasal nerve sheath, but not in the acini of the Jacobson glands in all age groups. In view of these observations, we postulate that galectin-3 plays a role in cell survival and cell adhesion in both the VSE and VRE of porcine VNO in all age groups.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Veterinary Anatomy, College of Veterinary Medicine and Veterinary Medical Research Institute, Jeju National University, Jeju 690-756, South Korea.
authors.forename: Changnam
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Sungyoung
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Hong-Gu
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Joo
authors.forename: Meejung
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: Kazumi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Taniguchi
authors.forename: Taekyun
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D016764:Cell Polarity; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D037502:Galectin 3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009831:Olfactory Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D021381:Protein Transport; D034421:Sus scrofa / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development*; D019147:Vomeronasal Organ / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D037502:Galectin 3