Histological and Immunohistochemical Characterization of Vomeronasal Organ Aging in Mice.

摘要: The vomeronasal organ (VNO) plays a crucial role in animal behavior since it is responsible for semiochemical detection and, thus, intra- and interspecific chemical communication, through the sensory epithelium (VNSE), composed of bipolar neurons. This study aimed to explore well-recognized cause neuronal degeneration, only rarely explored this organ: aging. Murine VNOs were evaluated according 3 age groups (3, 10, 24 months) by histology assess VNSE changes such as cellular degeneration or glycogen accumulation immunohistochemistry nervous configuration, proliferation capability, apoptosis with expression olfactory marker protein (OMP), Gαi2, Gαo, Ki-67, cleaved caspase-3 proteins. These markers quantified percentages positive signal statistical analyses performed. Cellular increased (p < 0.0001) well 0.0001), Gαo number cleaved-caspase3 cells = 0.0425), while OMP Gαi2 expressions decreased 0.0436 p 0.0001, respectively). Ki67-positive reduced, even if difference was not statistically significant 0.9105). Due VNO life, opens door interesting perspectives about communication efficiency aging animals.