Lectin-binding patterns in the olfactory epithelium and vomeronasal organ of the common marmoset.

The patterns of expression of sugar residues in the olfactory epithelium and vomeronasal organ of the common marmoset were studied lectin-histochemically. Eight lectins including DBA, BSL-I, RCA-I, s-WGA, PNA, ECL, UEA-I and Con A bound to the free border of the olfactory epithelium, and 6 lectins including DBA, RCA-I, s-WGA, PNA, ECL and UEA-I bound to that of the vomeronasal organ. UEA-I bound to all dendrites of the olfactory receptor cells, and 6 lectins including BSL-I, RCA-I, s-WGA, PNA, ECL and Con A bound to only a part of dendrites of the olfactory receptor cells. ECL and UEA-I bound to all dendrites of the vomeronasal receptor cells, and s-WGA, PNA and Con A bound to only a part of dendrites of the vomeronasal receptor cells. Seven lectins including RCA-I, s-WGA, BSL-II, PNA, ECL, UEA-I and Con A bound to all the olfactory receptor cell bodies, and BSL-I bound to only a part of them. Six lectins including RCA-I, s-WGA, PNA, ECL, UEA-I and Con A bound to all the vomeronasal receptor cell bodies, and BSL-II bound to only a part of them. These results showed that a smaller number of lectins bound to the free border, dendrites and cell bodies of the receptor cells in the vomeronasal organ than those in the olfactory epithelium, suggesting that the vomeronasal organ is less active in some physiological functions with which sugar residues are associated than the olfactory epithelium in the common marmoset.