From the eye to the nose: Ancient orbital to vomeronasal communication in tetrapods?

Hillenius, Willem J.; Rehorek, Susan J.

doi:10.1007/0-387-25160-x_27

Cited by 26 publications

(47 citation statements)

References 65 publications

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…[13–15, 40, 74]). Secretion of the primary orbital gland, the Harderian gland, was traditionally thought to be linked with the lubricative function in the eye, but in various taxa numerous functions at the anterior end of the lacrimal duct have been ascribed to this gland, including vomeronasal sense, immune response, pheromone production and thermoregulation [13]. A presumed role in vomerolfaction has been suggested especially for squamate reptiles in which a relatively close association occurs between the lacrimal duct and the Harderian gland and the lacrimal duct and the duct of the VNO or choanal groove [23, 40, 41].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The lacrimal duct of Sphenodon discharges into the anterior part of the nasal cavity near the choana and at some distance behind the opening of the VNO duct [13, 23, 24, 37]. This may represent the ancestral condition for Squamata.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Bellairs and Boyd [40] proposed that just like the chemical particles from the tongue, the Harderian secretion may be sucked from the lacrimal duct into the lumen of the VNO and act as an “additional solvent.” In fact, secretion of the Harderian gland was found inside the lumen of the VNO and on the surface of the tongue [13, 14]. Moreover, it was shown that the female pheromones of Thamnophis , insoluble in an aqueous solution, became soluble after adding to them the Harderian gland homogenate [16].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A growing body of evidence suggests that secretions of the Harderian gland, drained by the lacrimal or nasolacrimal duct, are linked with the chemoreceptive function of the vomeronasal organ. Hence, these two additional components should be considered as parts of the VNS [13–16]. In comparison to the main olfactory system, the vomeronasal system tends to be sensitive to less-volatile molecules and the function of vomerolfaction is considered in the context of location and discrimination of prey, avoidance of predator and reproduction [11, 17].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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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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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

2017

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Anatomy of the Nasal Passages in Mammals

Smith

Eiting

Bhatnagar

2015

Handbook of Olfaction and Gustation

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The Orbitofacial Glands of Bats: An Investigation of the Potential Correlation of Gland Structure with Social Organization

Rehorek

Smith

Bhatnagar

2010

The Anatomical Record

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The facial glands of bats are modified skin glands, whereas there are up to three different orbital glands: Harderian, lacrimal, and Meibomian glands. Scattered studies have described the lacrimal and Meibomian glands in a handful of bat species, but there is as yet no description of a Harderian gland in bats. In this study we examined serial sections of orbitofacial glands in eight families of bats. Much variation amongst species was observed, with few phylogenetic patterns emerging. Enlarged facial glands, either sudoriparous (five genera) or sebaceous (vespertilionids only) were observed. Meibomian and lacrimal glands were present in most species examined (except Antrozous), though the relative level of development varied. Two types of anterior orbital glands were distinguished: the Harderian gland (tubulo-acinar: observed in Rousettus, Atribeus, Desmodus and Miniopterus) and caruncular (sebaceous: observed in Eptesicus and Dieamus). The relative development of the nasolacrimal duct and the vomeronasal organ did not appear to be correlated with the development of any of the exocrine glands examined. There does, however, appear to be a correlation between the presence of at least one well developed exocrine gland and the level of communality and known olfactory acuity, best documented in Artibeus, Desmodus, and Miniopterus.

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From the eye to the nose: Ancient orbital to vomeronasal communication in tetrapods?

Cited by 26 publications

References 65 publications

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

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

Anatomy of the Nasal Passages in Mammals

The Orbitofacial Glands of Bats: An Investigation of the Potential Correlation of Gland Structure with Social Organization

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