Solitary phospholipase C β2-positive cells in the vomeronasal organs of Korean roe deer (Capreolus pygargus).

Abstract

Little is known about the vomeronasal organ (VNO), which is associated with social behaviors through pheromone detection in mammals, particularly ungulates. We investigated the distribution of phospholipase C beta 2 (PLCβ2), a marker of solitary chemosensory cells (SCCs), in the VNO of the Korean roe deer (Capreolus pygargus). PLCβ2-positive cells were detected in both the sensory and non-sensory epithelium of the VNO, and resembled the bipolar cells. PLCβ2-positive cells colocalized with choline acetyltransferase, and Lens culinaris agglutinin. Furthermore, PLCβ2-positive cells were surrounded with trigeminal nerve fibers with calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)-positive immunoreaction. The results indicate that the VNO of the Korean roe deer exhibits a distinct distribution of SCCs, which may be involved in detecting risk factors such as harmful substances.