Schwann cells of the olfactory nerves contain glial fibrillary acidic protein and resemble astrocytes.

Two antisera to glial fibrillary acidic protein from human brain and an antiserum to a 49 k dalton glial filament protein from human brain detected a cross-reacting antigen in the Schwann cells of the olfactory and vomeronasal nerves. The antigen was demonstrated at light- and electron-microscope levels. It was found throughout the cytoplasm and in association with cytoplasmic filaments of olfactory nerve Schwann cells in intact tissue and in Schwann cells grown in vitro. This observation, together with observations on the ultrastructure of olfactory nerve Schwann cells, relates them to central astroglia and to glial cells of the myenteric plexus, rather than to Schwann cells of other peripheral nerves. The unusual properties of olfactory nerve Schwann cells are of interest in relation to the regenerative abilities of the olfactory nerves.