A potential interference of chemoreception in inflamed vomeronasal organ with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

Inflammation of the vomeronasal organ (VNO) was evaluated in the context of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). The VNO was sampled in mice with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein-induced EAE, and processed for paraffin embedding. The sections were immunohistochemically evaluated for various markers, including ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1 (Iba1), myeloperoxidase (MPO), and olfactory marker protein (OMP). Inflammatory cell infiltration was detected in the connective tissues. Both Iba1-positive macrophages and MPO-positive neutrophils infiltrated the VNO of EAE, with increased secretion of mucus into the lumen. The intensity of the OMP-positive immunoreaction was decreased in the vomeronasal sensory epithelium of EAE-induced mice. We postulate that the inflammatory response of the VNO in EAE is associated with dysfunction of the accessory olfactory system.