Dissociation of frog olfactory epithelium with N-ethylmaleimide.

Treatment of frog olfactory epithelium with 8 mM N-ethylmaleimide for 2 min results in extensive dissociation of the epithelium. The resulting cell suspension contains single olfactory receptor neurons, sustentacular cells, respiratory epithelial cells, and cells of Bowman's glands. The cells in suspension exhibit the same morphologies seen in histological sections of intact epithelium.