Histomorphology of vomeronasal organ in Scincella tsinlingensis / Histomorfología del órgano vomeronasal en Scincella tsinlingensis

Due to the great change in the morphology of squamate vomeronasal organ (VNO), the histomorphology characteristics of VNO in Scincella tsinlingensis were studied by light and electronic microscopy. The results indicated that the VNO of S. tsinlingensis was located at the base of nasal cavity and consisted of a mushroom body situated anteroventrally and a sensory epithelium (SE) situated dorsocaudally. SE was composed of supporting cells, receptor cells and basal cells, and the supporting cells contained secretory granules near the surface membrane. Most of receptor cells were irregular in shape with long cytoplasmic extensions and characterized by microtubules, vesicles, and mitochondria. The basal cells with long cytoplasmic extensions were also irregular in shape and appeared a greater electron density than others. The thick nerve bundles were found on the dorsomedial area of VNO, and the surface of mushroom body was non-sensory epithelium consisting of ciliated and basal cells, without goblet cells. Epithelial cells were arranged in irregular, with many cilia and microvilli distributed on its free surface. Cells on the basal layer were irregularly circular in shape and arranged sparsely. Taken together, the results indicated that the fine structure of VNO in S. tsinlingensis was similar to other species from scincomorphs.

Debido al gran cambio en la morfología del órgano vomeronasal (OVN), se estudiaron las características histomorfológicas en la Scincella tsinlingensis por microscopías de luz y electrónica. Los resultados indicaron que el OVN de S. tsinlingensis se localizaba en la base de la cavidad nasal y consistía en un cuerpo como hongo situado anteroventralmente y un epitelio sensorial (ES) situado dorso caudamente. El ES estaba compuesto de células de soporte, células receptoras y células basales, y las células de soporte contenían gránulos secretores cerca de la membrana superficial. En gran parte de la mayoría de las células receptoras se observó una forma irregular con largas extensiones citoplasmáticas, caracterizadas por microtúbulos, vesículas y mitocondrias. Las células basales con extensiones citoplasmáticas también tenían forma irregular y algunas parecían tener una mayor densidad de electrones. Los haces gruesos nerviosos se encontraron en el área dorsomedial del OVN, la superficie del cuerpo de estaba compuesto de epitelio no sensorial y consistía de células ciliadas y basales, sin células caliciformes. Las células epiteliales estaban dispuestas de manera irregular, con muchos cilios y microvellosidades distribuidas en su superficie libre. Las células en la capa basal eran escasas y de forma circular irregular. Tomados en conjunto, los resultados indicaron que la estructura fina del OVN en S. tsinlingensis era similar a otras especies de scincomorpha.

Postnatal development of the female rabbit vomerosensory epithelium: a light and electron microscopic study

The vomeronasal organ [VNO] is an essential organ with regard to its recognition as a receptor of nonvolatile substances known as pheromones and its link with mammalian reproduction. The postnatal development of the vomerosensory epithelium of the VNO of female white rabbits has been investigated in this study. Four age groups [newborn, 1 week, 2 weeks, and 1 month] were studied using light and electron microscopic techniques. Three basic cell types have been distinguished in the rabbit vomerosensory epithelium: supporting cells, sensory neuronal cells, and basal cells. The supporting cells showed signs of maturation as enlargement and branching of the microvilli and difficulty of identification of centrioles in the apical parts of the cells. The sensory cells showed different stages of maturity; some changes have been found in the morphology and development of the cell organelles. There was decrease in the number of ribosomes and increase in the number of arborizations of their microvilli. The basal cells were present more at birth and decreased as the rabbits grew. There was maturation of the histological structure of the sensory epithelium of the VNO of female rabbits, which indicated the presence of great signs of functional activity at birth that continued during the first month of age to acquire mature functional capability

Aging of the olfactory system of male rats a histological and ultrastructural study I-olfactory and vomerosensory epithelia

In the present study, age-related histological, histochemical, and ultrastructural changes in both the olfactory epithelium [OE] and the vomeronasal organ [VNO] have been investigated. A total number of 30 albino rats were used in this study Animals were divided equally into two groups; [adult group] and [aged group]. The OE of the aged animals was reduced in thickness, with a relative disturbance in the zonal arrangement of its layers and invaded by acini of Bowman's glands. A basal nuclear-free zone and apical pale cells were also observed within the aged OE. Both mitotic figures and apoptotic bodies were seen in the aged OE. Periodic acid schief-Alcian blue [PAS-AB,] reaction revealed an increase in the PAS-reaction both in the apical and basal parts of the aged OE. Alkaline phosphatase reaction showed a marked reduction in the enzyme activity within the basal cell layer with the appearance of scattered positive cells with the aged OE. On the other hand an increase in the enzyme activity of Bowman 'S glands was observed. The most frequent ultrastructural finding within the aged OE was the accumulation of dense inclusion bodies within the mature ORNs. Less frequently filamentous inclusions were also detected. SEM investigation revealed reduction in the olfactory area and shortening in the olfactory cilia. In aged animals the vomerosensory cells showed vacuolated cytoplasm. Intraepithelial blood capillaries appeared irregular. Histochemically, the PAS-reaction was increased in the apical processes of the supporting cells and reduced in the VS cells whereas alkaline phosphatase along the apical surface was not affected. Ultrastructurally, vomerosensory cells exhibited dilatation of most organelles mainly sER and Golgi bodies, numerous clear vesicles of variable sizes, multiple electron-dense inclusions and lipofuscin granules. VNO are more vulnerable to the aging process than the OE. Sensory cells in particular are more affected than other cell types