Immunohistochemical detection of peripheral nerve fibers in the taste epithelium of fish using antiserum against human protein gene product 9.5

The primary medullary taste center of fish is somatotopically organized. For a detailed analysis of this organization, it is essential to reveal the peripheral distribution and innervation of the taste nerve fibers projecting on the taste center. We explored in this study to label the peripheral fibers immunohistochemically with various antiserums (a rabbit anti-human protein gene product (PGP) 9.5 serum, a rabbit anti-bovine grial fibrillary acidic protein, a rabbit anti-tenascin, a rabbit anti-substance P, a mouse anti-microtubule associated protein and a rabbit anti-neuron specific enolase). The results show that an antiserum against PGP 9.5 is a potent compound for staining selectively the trigeminofacial nerve fibers in the barbels of sea catfish Plotosus lineatus and goatfish Parupeneus spilurus.