Monoclonal antibodies (2C5 and 4C9) against lactoseries carbohydrates identify subsets of olfactory and vomeronasal receptor cells and their axons in the rabbit.

Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against lactoseries carbohydrates were used to study immunohistochemically the olfactory and vomeronasal receptor cells and their axons in the rabbit. MAb 2C5, which recognizes Gal alpha 1----3Gal beta 1----4G1cNAc----R structure, selectively labeled a subset of olfactory receptor cells and the majority of vomeronasal receptor cells. MAb 4C9, which reacts with fucosyl poly-N-acetyllactosamine, identified a subset of vomeronasal receptor cells. The above two MAbs also labeled the axons of these chemosensory receptor cells and thus revealed their axonal projection sites in the main and accessory olfactory bulbs.