Neuron-specific enolase, neurofilament protein and S-100 protein in the olfactory mucosa of human fetuses. An immunohistochemical study.

Immunohistochemical examination for neuron-specific enolase (NSE), neurofilament protein (NFP), and S-100 protein was performed in the olfactory mucosa of human fetuses. NSE and NFP immunoreactivities were found in the olfactory receptor cells, while no S-100 immunoreactive cells were recognized within the olfactory epithelium. The anti-NSE serum stained various types of nerve bundles in the lamina propria mucosae; a population of the NSE-positive nerve bundles was also immunoreactive for NFP. The anti-S-100 serum clearly demonstrated Schwann cells associated with the nerve fibers in the lamina propria mucosae. These findings suggest a possibility of NSE and NFP as new marker substances for olfactory cells and indicate that immunohistochemistry is a useful tool to analyse the cellular components of the olfactory organs in normal and pathological conditions.