The vomeronasal organ of the New World monkey Saguinus fuscicollis (Callitrichidae). A light and transmission electron microscopic study

Mendoza, Andrés S.; Küderling, I.; Kuhn, Hans-Jürg; Kühnel, Wolfgang

doi:10.1016/s0940-9602(11)80481-4

Cited by 21 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…Although it is possible that this behavior serves no function in the mandrill, flehmen is typically thought to be associated with the transport of odorants to the VNO. Of particular relevance is that the other primate species reported to perform flehmen [see Hunter et al, 1984] also present a functional VNO [Evans & Schilling, 1995;Hunter et al, 1984;Mendoza et al, 1994], coupled with secretory scent glands and scent-marking behavior [Epple et al, 1993;Schilling, 1979]. Nonetheless, in horses, which are reputed for their characteristic flehmen response, incisive ducts are present, but are blind ending and thus do not communicate with the VNO [Lindsay & Burton, 1983;Salazar et al, 1997].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nasopalatine Ducts and Flehmen Behavior in the Mandrill: Reevaluating Olfactory Communication in Old World Primates

Charpentier

Mboumba

Ditsoga

et al. 2013

American J Primatol

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Compared to other modes of communication, chemical signaling between conspecifics generally has been overlooked in Old World primates, despite the presence in this group of secretory glands and scent-marking behavior, as well as the confirmed production and perception of olfactory signals. In other mammalian species, flehmen is a behavior thought to transport primarily nonvolatile, aqueous-soluble odorants via specialized ducts to the vomeronasal organ (VNO). By contrast, Old World primates are traditionally thought to lack a functional VNO, relying instead on the main olfactory system to process volatile odorants from their environment. Here, in the mandrill (Mandrillus sphinx), we document unusual morphological and behavioral traits that typically are associated with the uptake of conspecific chemical cues for processing by an accessory olfactory system. Notably, we confirmed that both sexes possess open nasopalatine ducts and, in response to the presentation of conspecific odorants, we found that both sexes showed stereotyped behavior consistent with the flehmen response. If, as in other species, flehmen in the mandrill serves to mediate social or reproductive information, we expected its occurrence to vary with characteristics of either the signaler or receiver. Flehmen, particularly in a given male, occurred most often in response to odorants derived from male, as opposed to female, conspecifics. Moreover, odorants derived during the breeding season elicited more flehmen responses than did odorants collected during the birthing season. Lastly, odorants from reproductively cycling females also elicited more responses than did odorants from contracepted females. Although confirming a link between the nasopalatine ducts, flehmen behavior, and olfactory processing in mandrills would require further study, our observations provide new information to suggest anatomical variability within Old World primates, calling further attention to the underappreciated role of chemical communication in this lineage.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nasopalatine Ducts and Flehmen Behavior in the Mandrill: Reevaluating Olfactory Communication in Old World Primates

Charpentier

Mboumba

Ditsoga

et al. 2013

American J Primatol

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“…Für eine Perzeption von Pheromonen stellt das dünnflüssige wasserreiche Sekret der serösen Spüldrüsen möglicherweise das Medium dar, welches die leicht lösbaren, schnell diffundierenden und flüchtigen Pheromone zu den Sinneszellen des Organs transportiert; die Spüldrüsen könnten das Organ sauberhalten und auch das für die Adsorption flüchtiger chemischer Substanzen notwendige externe Milieu gewährleisten [4]. Bei den Mammalia wird ein Ansaug-oder Pumpmechanismus während der Inspiration mittels der starken Vaskularisierung diskutiert [4,9]: Das Tier hebt beim "Flehmen" den Kopf und zieht durch den Pumpmechanismus die Flüssigkeit in das Lumen des VNO, um aktiv die sensible Perzeption zu verstärken; möglicher-weise spielt auch die Eindickung der Flüssigkeit im Lumen durch Rückre-sorption eine verstärkende Rolle.…”

Section: Materials Und Methodikunclassified

“…Erst mit dem zunehmenden Interesse an der Neurophysiologie der Riechschleimhaut und der Diskussion über Pheromone in der Öffentlichkeit und in den Medien hat man sich eingehender mit diesem interessanten Organ beschäftigt [4,6], welches vom Riechorgan getrennt ist und ebenso wie dieses Das vomeronasale Organ (VNO) wurde 1811 von dem dänischen Arzt Jacobson zuerst an Säugetieren entdeckt und ist bei diesen sehr gut entwickelt. Eine Beschreibung beim Menschen 1703 durch den Holländer Ruysch blieb lange unbekannt [7]; als paarig angelegtes akzessorisches Organ der Nasenhaupthöhle ist es offenbar mehr oder weniger rudimentär meistens vorhanden [2].…”

Section: Elektronenmikroskopische Untersuchungen Des Menschlichen Vomunclassified

Elektronenmikroskopische Untersuchungen des menschlichen vomeronasalen Organs

Jähnke

Merker

1998

HNO

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The vomeronasal organ, or Jacobson's organ, is essential for pheromone detection and reproductive behavior in most mammals. In humans, it has been described as a blind diverticulum in the anterior nasal septum, but without a documented function. The purpose of this study is to describe the fine structure of the human adult vomeronasal organ in 14 specimens. Our studies showed a duct-like invagination of the epithelium that was surrounded by numerous exocrine glands with short ducts. The fine structure of these glands suggested a serous secretion. In the depth of the invagination, pseudostratified columnar epithelial cells were seen that had plump processes, kinocilia and microvilli at the apical cell membrane. Several cell types were seen that differed regarding their organelles and electron density, with light sensory cells exhibiting neurofilaments. Underneath the typical basement membrane, numerous myelinated and unmyelinated axons were present in the very vascular lamina proprion. These morphological findings are unique in the human body and suggest that a chemosensory epithelium corresponding to a vomeronasal organ may exist. Its central connections and the possible functional significance of this tubed organ for pheromone detection are unknown and need further study.

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“…Fine structure of the olfactory epithelium (OE) and vomeronasal organ (VNO) has been well-documented on various species of amphibians [6,9,17,[19][20][21], reptiles [10,18] and mammals [1,3,[14][15][16]. Details in their developmental changes have also been well-documented in various species [4,7,8,19,[23][24][25][26].…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Embryonic and Postnatal Differentiation of Olfactory Epithelium and Vomeronasal Organ in the Syrian Hamster

Taniguchi

2008

The Journal of Veterinary Medical Science

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ABSTRACT. The details of the embryonic and postnatal differentiation of the olfactory epithelium (OE) and vomeronasal organ (VNO) were examined by light and electron microscopy in the Syrian hamster. At 10 days of gestation, the nasal placode is invaginated to form the olfactory pit on either side at the rostral end of the embryo. Abundant mitotic figures are observed near the free surface of the epithelium lining the olfactory pit. At 11 days of gestation, the mass of the epithelium lining a recess is separated from the medial wall of the olfactory pit to form the VNO. At 13 days of gestation, mitotic figures become observable in the basal layer of the vomeronasal sensory epithelium (VSE) in addition to the superficial to middle layers, while in the OE mitotic figures are observed mainly in the middle to basal layer. At 1 day after birth, the OE is almost complete in differentiation. On the other hand, the VSE differentiate slowly to retain some immature properties even at 10 days after birth. These findings suggest that the olfactory function seems to be solely ascribed to the OE for a while after birth. The significance of mitotic figures are discussed in the course of development with special reference to the origin of the nasal placode from the central nervous system. KEY WORDS: differentiation, fine structure, mitosis, olfactory epithelium, vomeronasal organ.

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The vomeronasal organ of the New World monkey Saguinus fuscicollis (Callitrichidae). A light and transmission electron microscopic study

Cited by 21 publications

References 26 publications

Nasopalatine Ducts and Flehmen Behavior in the Mandrill: Reevaluating Olfactory Communication in Old World Primates

Nasopalatine Ducts and Flehmen Behavior in the Mandrill: Reevaluating Olfactory Communication in Old World Primates

Elektronenmikroskopische Untersuchungen des menschlichen vomeronasalen Organs

Embryonic and Postnatal Differentiation of Olfactory Epithelium and Vomeronasal Organ in the Syrian Hamster

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