DISTRIBUTION OF CALCIUM-BINDING PROTEINS IN SENSORY ORGANS OF THE EAR, NOSE AND THROAT

Distributions of spot-35 protein (S-35). calbindin (CaB), and palvalbu min (PaV), three types of calcium-binding protein, were examined immun ohistochemically in sensory organs of the ear, nose and throat in guin ea pigs and rats. Immunoreactivity of S-35 and CaB was found in the ou ter hair cells and in vestibular sensory cells situated at the top of the ampulla, and in some cells in the macula. Microvillar cells in the olfactory epithelium, periglomerular cells, and small numbers of cell s in the mitral cell layer in the olfactory bulb reacted to anti-S-35 and anti-CaB antisera. In taste buds, most gustatory receptor cells re acted to anti-CaB, although a few reacted to anti-S-35 antiserum. Neur on-like cells in the upper respiratory tract reacted similarly to thes e antisera. No PaV-immunoreactivity was found in any region. These res ults indicate that S-35 and CaB play important roles in the special ki nds of mechanoreceptor and chemoreceptor cells found in the otolarynge al area.