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Glutathione and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase are differentially distributed in the olfactory mucosa of rats

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Summary

Components of the γ-glutamyl cycle, including thiols, glutathione (GSH) and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (γ-GT), were localized in the nasal mucosae of rats using histochemical and immunohistochemical methods. In olfactory mucosa, thiols were widely distributed, with intense staining in the mucociliary complex (MC), basal cells, acinar cells of Bowman's glands (BG), and olfactory nerve bundles, and with moderate staining in olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs). GSH was localized in MC, BG acinar cells, nerve bundles and, to a lesser extent, in ORNs. γ-GT immunoreactivity was restricted to the MC and to basolateral and apical membranes of BG acinar and duct cells. The basolateral membrane of BG acinar cells, located in close association with blood vessels and connective tissue, showed granule-like immunoreactivity. Inrespiratory mucosa, all three compounds were localized in the MC and acinar cells of respiratory glands (RG). In the MC, γ-GT immunoreactivity was associated primarily with brush borders of ciliated cells. Granular immunoreactivity was also apparent in the supranuclear region of RG acinar cells. These results demonstrate that components of the γ-glutamyl cycle are localized in olfactory and respiratory glands, and that they are secreted into the mucus, where they may mediate perireceptor events such as detoxification and/or solubilization of air-borne xenobiotics, toxicants and odorants.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, 40536, Lexington, KY, USA

    N. S. Rama Krishna & Thomas V. Getchell

  2. Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, 40536, Lexington, KY, USA

    Marilyn L. Getchell & Thomas V. Getchell

  3. Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, 40536, Lexington, KY, USA

    Marilyn L. Getchell & Thomas V. Getchell

  4. Department of Biochemistry, Cornell University Medical College, 10021, New York, NY, USA

    Suresh S. Tate

  5. Department of Neuroscience, Roche Institute of Molecular Biology, 07110, Nutley, NJ, USA

    Frank L. Margolis

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  1. N. S. Rama Krishna
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  2. Marilyn L. Getchell
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  3. Suresh S. Tate
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  4. Frank L. Margolis
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  5. Thomas V. Getchell
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Rama Krishna, N.S., Getchell, M.L., Tate, S.S. et al. Glutathione and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase are differentially distributed in the olfactory mucosa of rats. Cell Tissue Res. 270, 475–484 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00645049

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00645049

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