Immunohistochemical detection of EGF and NGF receptors in human olfactory epithelium

The immunohistochemical localization of EGF and NGF receptors has been studied in the olfactory epithelium of human foetuses from 8 to 12 weeks of age. A positivity for EGF receptor, increasing with the age, was detected in the apical portion of the sensory epithelium. The NGF receptor was well detectable also at 8 weeks and localized both in differentiated olfactory cells and in some basal cells. From primary cultures of olfactory epithelium, a cell clone positive for Enolase, Neurofilaments and S-100 Protein was identified. These cells were shown to be reactive for EGF and NGF receptors. The addition of Retinoic acid to the culture medium induces a morphological differentiation of these cells that become positive for the Olfactory Marker Protein.