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

ABSTRACT

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