Embryonic and neonatal development of the vomeronasal and olfactory systems in garter snakes (<i>Thamnophis spp</i>.)

Holtzman, David A.; Halpern, Mimi

doi:10.1002/jmor.1052030202

Cited by 27 publications

(36 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…Moreover, VNG appear slightly later than VNO in R. arenarum (G28-29). In amniotes and most anurans, VNG development trails VNO ontogeny (Holtzman and Halpern 1990;Taniguchi et al 1996b;Garrosa et al 1998;Wang et al 2008), whereas, in the bufonids B. regularis and B. americanus VNG emerge at the same time as the VNO.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Larval development and metamorphosis of the olfactory and vomeronasal organs in the toad Rhinella (Bufo) arenarum (Hensel, 1867)

2010

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Jungblut, L.D., Pozzi, A.G. and Paz, D.A. 2011. Larval development and metamorphosis of the olfactory and vomeronasal organs in the toad Rhinella (Bufo) arenarum (Hensel, 1867). -Acta Zoologica (Stockholm) 92: 305-315.The olfactory and the vomeronasal system are the two major chemosensory systems found in terrestrial vertebrates. Among tetrapods, amphibians are unique in having an aquatic larval stage, followed by metamorphosis to a terrestrial adult. In the present work, we studied the histological development of the olfactory and vomeronasal organ and associated multicellular glands of the toad Rhinella (Bufo) arenarum, from early poshatching larva to postmetamorphic toadlets. As in other bufonids, the olfactory epithelium of R. arenarum in larvae is divided into dorsal and ventral branches in the rostral and mid-nasal regions. At metamorphic climax, the larval pattern changes drastically and the adult olfactory configuration develops. Bowman's glands appear in the olfactory epithelium of R. arenarum at the onset of metamorphic climax. The vomeronasal epithelium develops early in larval development in R. arenarum, around the time of operculum development. Interestingly, a novel sensory epithelium develops in the floor of the principal chamber of R. arenarum at metamorphic climax. This novel sensory epithelium resembles larval sensory epithelium lacking Bowman's glands, and suggests that these animals would be able to sense not only air-borne, but also water-borne odors during their adult terrestrial life.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Larval development and metamorphosis of the olfactory and vomeronasal organs in the toad Rhinella (Bufo) arenarum (Hensel, 1867)

2010

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“…Based on previous gross morphological studies in snakes (Holtzman and Halpern, 1990;Parsons, 1970), the increase in cell column size may be due to either cell proliferation and/or cell migration from the cells in the lumenal layer to the growing columns. Cell turnover in the embryonic snake VNE was demonstrated by long-survival studies using 3 H-thymidine (Holtzman and Halpern, 1991), and the data from 3-µm-thick sections suggest that cell death is restricted mostly to the lumenal layer during late VNE embryogenesis (Figs.…”

Section: Early Gestation: Zehr Stages 23-30mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A PREDICTIVE MODEL Given that the VNE arises from the olfactory placode (Brunjes and Frazier, 1986;Holtzman and Halpern, 1990), it is probable that the VNE and olfactory epithelium share mechanisms that regulate cell proliferation and turnover. Evidence for proliferating and differentiating subpopulations of neuronal precursors comes from studies of the rodent olfactory epithelium (Calof and Chikaraishi, 1989;Cushieri and Bannister, 1975a,b;Gordon et al, 1995;Mackay-Sim and Kittel, 1991;Paternostro and Meisami, 1993;Suzuki and Takeda, 1993) and the garter snake VNE and olfactory epithelium (Holtzman and Halpern, 1991).…”

Section: Changes With Age In the Cell Dynamics Of The Vnementioning

confidence: 99%

Cell dynamics in the embryonic and postnatal vomeronasal epithelium of snakes

Holtzman

1998

Microsc. Res. Tech.

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“…[9, 52–54]) attention. It has, however, received only a limited embryological investigation, constrained to some anatomical [23, 24, 28, 31] or cellular studies [29, 55, 56] and brief surveys [57]. …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Embryology of the VNO and associated structures in the grass snake Natrix natrix (Squamata: Natricinae): a 3D perspective

2017

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BackgroundSnakes are considered to be vomerolfaction specialists. They are members of one of the most diverse groups of vertebrates, Squamata. The vomeronasal organ and the associated structures (such as the lacrimal duct, choanal groove, lamina transversalis anterior and cupola Jacobsoni) of adult lizards and snakes have received much anatomical, histological, physiological and behavioural attention. However, only limited embryological investigation into these structures, constrained to some anatomical or cellular studies and brief surveys, has been carried out thus far. The purpose of this study was, first, to examine the embryonic development of the vomeronasal organ and the associated structures in the grass snake (Natrix natrix), using three-dimensional reconstructions based on histological studies, and, second, to compare the obtained results with those presented in known publications on other snakes and lizards.ResultsFive major developmental processes were taken into consideration in this study: separation of the vomeronasal organ from the nasal cavity and its specialization, development of the mushroom body, formation of the lacrimal duct, development of the cupola Jacobsoni and its relation to the vomeronasal nerve, and specialization of the sensory epithelium. Our visualizations showed the VNO in relation to the nasal cavity, choanal groove, lacrimal duct and cupola Jacobsoni at different embryonic stages. We confirmed that the choanal groove disappears gradually, which indicates that this structure is absent in adult grass snakes. On our histological sections, we observed a gradual growth in the height of the columns of the vomeronasal sensory epithelium and widening of the spaces between them.ConclusionsThe main ophidian taxa (Scolecophidia, Henophidia and Caenophidia), just like other squamate clades, seem to be evolutionarily conservative at some levels with respect to the VNO and associated structures morphology. Thus, it was possible to homologize certain embryonic levels of the anatomical and histological complexity, observed in the grass snake, with adult conditions of certain groups of Squamata. This may reflect evolutionary shift in Squamata from visually oriented predators to vomerolfaction specialists. Our descriptions offer material useful for future comparative studies of Squamata, both at their anatomical and histological levels.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12983-017-0188-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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Embryonic and neonatal development of the vomeronasal and olfactory systems in garter snakes (Thamnophis spp.)

Cited by 27 publications

References 32 publications

Larval development and metamorphosis of the olfactory and vomeronasal organs in the toad Rhinella (Bufo) arenarum (Hensel, 1867)

Larval development and metamorphosis of the olfactory and vomeronasal organs in the toad Rhinella (Bufo) arenarum (Hensel, 1867)

Cell dynamics in the embryonic and postnatal vomeronasal epithelium of snakes

Embryology of the VNO and associated structures in the grass snake Natrix natrix (Squamata: Natricinae): a 3D perspective

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