Enzyme histochemistry of the olfactory and vomeronasal sensory epithelia in the golden hamster.

Histochemical activities of several enzymes were investigated in the olfactory epithelium (OE) and vomeronasal organ (VNO) of the golden hamster. Activities of adenosine triphosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase and succinate dehydrogenase were intense in the OE, and the sensory (VSE) and respiratory epithelium (VRE) of the VNO. The activity of acid phosphatase was intense in both the OE and the VSE, while that of non-specific esterase was intense in the VSE alone. The activity of alkaline phosphatase was detectable only in the VRE. Activities of monoamine oxidase and acetylcholine esterase were negative in all of the OE, VSE and VRE. These similarities and differences in the histochemical distribution of enzymes between OE and VSE may reflect the common olfactory function and/or functional specialization in these epithelia. On the other hand, the VRE was considerably different from the OE and VSE in the enzymatic distribution. This may reflect the non-olfactory function of this epithelium.