A putative functional vomeronasal system in anuran tadpoles

We investigated the occurrence and anatomy of the vomeronasal system (VNS) in tadpoles of 13 different anuran species. All of the species possessed a morphologically fully developed VNS with a highly conserved anatomical organisation. We found that a bean-shaped vomeronasal organ (VNO) developed ear...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Jungblut, L.D., Pozzi, A.G., Paz, D.A.
Formato: JOUR
Materias:
Accessory olfactory system
Chemical sensing
G protein
Pheromones
Vomeronasal organ
guanine nucleotide binding protein alpha subunit
lectin
synaptophysin
animal tissue
Anura
article
brain region
embryo
embryo development
fetus
histology
larval development
nonhuman
olfactory bulb
priority journal
sensory nerve cell
tadpole
telencephalon
vomeronasal organ
Animals
Immunohistochemistry
Larva
Olfactory Bulb
Species Specificity
Vomeronasal Organ
Tetrapoda
Vertebrata
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12110/paper_00218782_v221_n4_p364_Jungblut
Aporte de:
Biblioteca Digital - Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (UBA) de Universidad de Buenos Aires
Descripción
Sumario:We investigated the occurrence and anatomy of the vomeronasal system (VNS) in tadpoles of 13 different anuran species. All of the species possessed a morphologically fully developed VNS with a highly conserved anatomical organisation. We found that a bean-shaped vomeronasal organ (VNO) developed early in the tadpoles, during the final embryonic stages, and was located in the anteromedial nasal region. Histology revealed the presence of bipolar chemosensory neurones in the VNO that were immunoreactive for the Gαo protein. Tract-tracing experiments demonstrated that chemosensory neurones from the VNO reach specific areas in the brain, where a discernible accessory olfactory bulb (AOB) could be observed. The AOB was located in the ventrolateral side of the anterior telencephalon, somewhat caudal to the main olfactory bulb. Synaptophysin-like immunodetection revealed that synaptic contacts between VNO and AOB are established during early larval stages. Moreover, using lectin staining, we identified glomerular structures in the AOB in most of the species that we examined. According to our findings, a significant maturation in the VNS is achieved in anuran larvae. Recent published evidence strongly suggests that the VNS appeared early in vertebrate evolution and was already present in the aquatic last common ancestor of lungfish and tetrapods. In this context, tadpoles may be a good model in which to investigate the anatomical, biochemical and functional aspects of the VNS in an aquatic environment. © 2012 Anatomical Society.

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