In Utero and Lactational Lanthanum Exposure Induces Olfactory Dysfunction Associated with Downregulation of βIII-tubulin and Olfactory Marker Protein in Young Rats

Abstract

We evaluated the role of βIII-tubulin in the morphology of olfactory receptor neuron (ORN) and olfactory dysfunction in offspring caused by prenatal and postnatal lanthanum exposure. Pregnant rats were exposed to 0.25% lanthanum chloride in drinking water from gestational day (GD) 7 until postnatal day 21. From postnatal day 23 until postnatal day 28, pups were examined with buried food pellet and olfactory maze test. The ultrastructural features of ORNs in the olfactory epithelium (OE) were observed by transmission electron microscope. The expression of βIII-tubulin and olfactory marker protein (OMP) in the tissue sections and homogenates of OE were, respectively, measured by immunodetection and western blot. Behavioral analysis of olfaction showed that lanthanum chloride exposure induced olfactory dysfunction. Offsprings exposed to lanthanum chloride showed enlarged ORN knobs and a decreased number of cilia. In addition, the levels of OMP and βIII-tubulin expression in lanthanum chloride exposure offsprings significantly decreased. Developmental lanthanum exposure could impair olfaction, and this deficit may be attributed to the downregulation of βIII-tubulin and OMP in the OE.

Morphological and behavioural changes occur following the X-ray irradiation of the adult mouse olfactory neuroepithelium

“…We quantified the number of OSNs positively stained for βIIITubulin (immature and some mature OSNs) [28], carnosine (immature and mature OSNs) [10,11,29] and olfactory marker protein (OMP) (mature OSNs) [30,31] for all groups. The results showed no significant difference for βIIITubulin (Figure 3E,F), but there is an increase in the number of both carnosine- and OMP-positive OSNs at 1 week (Figure 3A-D) in the regions examined.…”

“…The results showed no significant difference for βIIITubulin (Figure 3E,F), but there is an increase in the number of both carnosine- and OMP-positive OSNs at 1 week (Figure 3A-D) in the regions examined. Carnosine and OMP label more mature OSNs compared to βIIITubulin which labels only a subpopulation of mature OSNs [28]. …”