Species differences in amphibian olfactory neuron reactivity to a monoclonal antibody

A monoclonal antibody immunostained a subpopulation of olfactory sensory neurons in cryostat sections of the olfactory mucosa of the grass frog, Rana pipiens, and the bullfrog, Rana catesbeiana. However, in the olfactory tissues of the African clawed frog, Xenopus laevis, only mucus and mucus-secreting components were stained, and no cell-specific immunoreactivity was seen in the tiger salamander, Ambystoma tigrinum. This antibody is a useful marker of olfactory neuronal subpopulations in some amphibians and illustrates the difficulties in cross-species immunocytochemistry.