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Immunocytochemical characterisation of olfactory ensheathing cells of zebrafish
Author(s) -
Lazzari Maurizio,
Bettini Simone,
Franceschini Valeria
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of anatomy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.932
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1469-7580
pISSN - 0021-8782
DOI - 10.1111/joa.12129
Subject(s) - olfactory ensheathing glia , zebrafish , biology , olfactory system , olfactory bulb , neural cell adhesion molecule , glial fibrillary acidic protein , olfactory marker protein , neurogenesis , immunostaining , microbiology and biotechnology , olfactory nerve , olfactory mucosa , neuroscience , vimentin , olfactory receptor , central nervous system , cell adhesion , immunohistochemistry , immunology , cell , genetics , gene
Continuous lifelong neurogenesis is typical of the vertebrate olfactory system. The regenerative ability of olfactory receptor neurons is dependent on the glial cell type specific to the olfactory pathway, designated ‘olfactory ensheathing cells’. Several studies to date have focused on mammalian olfactory ensheathing cells, owing to their potential roles in cell‐based therapy for spinal cord injury repair. However, limited information is available regarding this glial cell type in non‐mammalian vertebrates, particularly anamniotes. In the current immunocytochemical study, we analysed the features of olfactory ensheathing cells in the zebrafish, Danio rerio . Fish provide a good model for studying glial cells associated with the olfactory pathway of non‐mammalian vertebrates. In particular, zebrafish has numerous valuable features that enable its use as a prime model organism for genetic, neurobiological and developmental studies, as well as toxicology and genomics research. Paraffin sections from decalcified heads of zebrafish were processed immunocytochemically to detect proteins used in the research on mammalian olfactory ensheathing cells, including glial fibrillary acid protein ( GFAP) , S100, neural cell adhesion molecule ( NCAM) , polysialylated NCAM ( PSA ‐ NCAM) , vimentin (VIM), p75 NTR and galactin (Gal)‐1. Notably, GFAP , S100, NCAM and Gal‐1 were clearly observed, whereas no vimentin staining was detected. Weak immunostaining for PSA ‐ NCAM and p75 NTR was evident. Moreover the degree of marker expression was not uniform in various tracts of the zebrafish olfactory pathway. The immunostaining patterns of the zebrafish olfactory system are distinct from those of other fish to some extent, suggesting interspecific differences. We also showed that the olfactory pathway of zebrafish expresses markers of mammalian olfactory ensheathing cells. The olfactory systems of vertebrates have similarities but there are also marked variations between them. The issue of whether regional and interspecific differences in immunostaining patterns of olfactory pathway markers have functional significance requires further investigation.