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Epithelial and endothelial barriers in the olfactory region of the nasal cavity of the rat

Histochemistry and Cell Biology volume 130, pages 127–140 (2008)Cite this article

Abstract

The olfactory ensheathing (glial) cells (OECs) have been identified to be useful candidate cells to support regeneration after being transplanted into injured fiber tracts of the central nervous system. We investigated by means of immunocytochemistry and freeze-fracturing the morphology and molecular composition of OEC tight junctions in the rat olfactory system. In addition, we tested the hypothesis whether tight junctions and orthogonal arrays of particles (OAPs) which contain the water channel protein aquaporin-4 (AQP4), are mutually exclusive as suggested in previous studies. In OECs, we found neither OAPs nor AQP4, but tight junctions immunoreactive for ZO-1, occludin, and claudin-5, but immunonegative for ZO-2 and claudin-3. To shed more light on the function of OEC tight junctions, we tested the permeability and tight junction composition of blood vessels and fila olfactoria. We found them both, permeable for infused lanthanum nitrate, and to be immunopositive for ZO-1 and claudin-5. The tight junctions of the OECs are discussed to be responsible for micro-compartmentalization within the olfactory fiber tract providing a benefit for axonal growth.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by a grant of the Hertie-foundation (grant number 1.01.1/07/003) to HW and KW-B. The skilful technical assistance of A. Adam (immunohistochemistry), E.-M. Knittel (freeze-fracturing), and G. Frommer-Kästle (ultrathin sections) is gratefully acknowledged.

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Affiliations

  1. Institute of Pathology, University of Tübingen, Liebermeisterstraße 8, 72076, Tübingen, Germany

    Hartwig Wolburg, Karen Wolburg-Buchholz & Heike Sam

  2. Institute of Biophysics, Biological Research Center, 6726, Szeged, Hungary

    Sándor Horvát & Maria A. Deli

  3. Institute of Anatomy, University of Tübingen, 72076, Tübingen, Germany

    Andreas F. Mack

Authors
  1. Hartwig Wolburg
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  2. Karen Wolburg-Buchholz
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  3. Heike Sam
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  4. Sándor Horvát
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  5. Maria A. Deli
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  6. Andreas F. Mack
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Correspondence to Hartwig Wolburg.

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Wolburg, H., Wolburg-Buchholz, K., Sam, H. et al. Epithelial and endothelial barriers in the olfactory region of the nasal cavity of the rat. Histochem Cell Biol 130, 127–140 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00418-008-0410-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00418-008-0410-2

Keywords

  • Olfactory system
  • Olfactory ensheathing cells
  • Aquaporins
  • Tight junctions
  • Freeze-fracturing