Immunohistochemical localization of neuron specific enolase in developing tongue of Korean native goat (Capra hircus)

Abstract

Neuron-specific enolase (NSE), a brain specific isoenzyme of the glycolytic enzyme, is characterized by its consistent occurrence in the cytoplasm of mature neurons. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the expression of NSE in the developing tongue of Korean native goats. The tongues of the fetuses were removed from 2- to 4-year-old female Korean native goats by caesarean section performed under general anesthesia. The expression of NSE in the developing tongue of goat fetuses (60, 90, 120, and 150 days) was studied using immunohistochemistry. In 60-day-old fetuses, NSE-immunoreactivity (IR) exhibited weak appearance in lamina propria of the basal portion and the apical epithelia of the tongue. In 90-day-old fetuses, NSE-nerve fibers were extended in the core part of connective tissue, and primordia of the taste buds was moderately positive. In 120-day-old fetuses, NSE-IR was strongly expressed in taste buds and gustatory nerve fibers. In neonates, the taste buds of vallate papillae were strongly positive for NSE, and development of nerve fibers was synapsed with connective tissue of well innervated taste buds. These results indicate that NSE expressions were associated with the sign of nerve innervation in prenatal development of goat tongues and NSE may be a useful neuronal marker to understand the development of gustatory nerve innervations.