Solitary phospholipase C β2-positive cells in the vomeronasal organs of Korean roe deer (<i>Capreolus pygargus</i>)

Little is known about the vomeronasal organ (VNO), which is associated with social behaviors through pheromone detection in mammals, particularly ungulates. We investigated the distribution of phospholipase C beta 2 (PLCβ2), a marker of solitary chemosensory cells (SCCs), in the VNO of the Korean roe deer (Capreolus pygargus). PLCβ2-positive cells were detected in both the sensory and non-sensory epithelium of the VNO, and resembled the bipolar cells. PLCβ2-positive cells colocalized with choline acetyltransferase, and Lens culinaris agglutinin. Furthermore, PLCβ2-positive cells were surrounded with trigeminal nerve fibers with calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)-positive immunoreaction. The results indicate that the VNO of the Korean roe deer exhibits a distinct distribution of SCCs, which may be involved in detecting risk factors such as harmful substances.