Anatomy, ultrastructure and histology of the olfactory organ of the largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides, Centrarchidae

Abstract

The detailed anatomy, ultrastructure and histology of the olfactory organ of Micropterus salmoides were investigated by a stereo microscope, a light microscope, and a scanning electron microscope. Its external structure shows a tube-like anterior nostril to stick out and a posterior nostril flat to the skin surface. Meanwhile, its internal structure, the olfactory chamber, contains a fan-shaped rosette structure with 9 to 11 lamellae in adult fish over 35 cm in standard length (SL) and two accessory nasal sacs (ethmoidal and lacrimal sacs) were found. Interestingly, the rosette in young fish under 15 cm in SL was a longitudinal structure in parallel with each of 4-5 lamellae. Histologically, the sensory epithelium (SE) on the olfactory chamber consists of 5 types of cells: olfactory receptor neurons, supporting cells, basal cells, lymphatic cells and mucous cells. In contrast, the non-sensory epithelium (NSE) has stratified epithelial cells, lymphatic cells and mucous cells. The mucous cells of the SE are abundant and distributed densely in one row on the outermost superficial surface, but the one of the NSE are less than the SE. From these results, the olfactory characters of M. salmoides may be related with its ecological habit spending in the middle layer of stagnant water contaminated, more or less.

Histoanatomy and surface ultrastructure of the olfactory organ of the freshwater tank goby, Glossogobius giuris (Hamilton, 1822)

“…The presence of lymphatic cells throughout the epithelia functioned as a component of cell immunity (Lieschke and Trede 2009). The same cell types were reported in the olfactory organ of Micropterus salmoides (Lacepède) (Kim et al 2019). Mucous cells secreted mucin which protected the epithelia and helped to bind microscopic particles to keep the sensory receptor accessible for new odorants.…”

Comparative ultrastructure of the olfactory system in the East African root rat (Tachyoryctes splendens) and the naked mole rat (Heterocephalus glaber)

“…Anatomical studies on the olfactory system have largely focused on animals dwelling on the surface of the earth, in water and those that fly. Some of the species that have been studied include humans (Chen et al., 2014; Kavoi & Hassanali, 2011; Stevenson, 2009), birds (Healy & Guilford, 1990), pigs (Holubcova et al., 1997), kittens (Kocianova et al., 2001), sheep (Kavoi et al., 2010; Kocianova et al., 2003), goat (Kavoi & Hassanali, 2011; Mogi et al., 2007; Mohamed et al., 2019), dog (Kavoi et al., 2010; Mohamed et al., 2019; Qin‐guo et al., 2008) laboratory animals (Barrios et al., 2014; Carey et al., 2009; Furudono et al., 2013; Iwema et al., 2004; Kavoi et al., 2012; Meister & Bonhoeffer, 2001; Yokosuka, 2012) and fishes (Chakrabarti & Ghosh, 2011; Kim et al., 2019).…”