Enzyme histochemistry of the olfactory mucosa and vomeronasal organ in the mouse

Abstract

The enzyme histochemistry of the olfactory mucosa has been previously studied in various species of vertebrates (Baradi & Bourne, 1951, 1953; De Amicis & Zorzoli, 1957; Negri, 1957; Barbera, 1959; Bronshtein, 1960, 1965; Shantha & Nakajima, 1970). These studies have shown that the pattern of distribution of enzymes in the olfactory mucosa varies considerably among the different species. The histochemistry of the vomeronasal organ has so far received little attention and only one brief report has yet been published (Bannister & Cuschieri, 1972). The purpose of the present study was to compare the histochemical distribution of a number of enzymes in the olfactory and vomeronasal epithelia of the mouse in view of the morphological and electrophysiological differences between these epithelia which have recently been d.emonstrated (Tucker, 1963; Altner & Muller, 1968; Bannister, 1968; Altner, Muller & Brachner, 1970; Graziadei & Tucker, 1970; Kratzling, 1971; Kolnberger, 1971; MUller, 1971).