Summary
There are three types of cells in the vomero-nasal organ of Lacerta sicula and Natrix natrix: receptor cells, supporting cells and basal cells. The receptor cells bear microvilli and no cilia. In Lacerta centrioles are lacking, indicating that the ciliary apparatus can have no essential significance in the transducer process. In Natrix centrioles occur in the deeper dendritic region. The structural constituents of the dendrites are mitochondria, microtubules and characteristic vesicles the properties of which are described. The perikarya which have uniform structure send off axons of about 0.2 μ diameter. The supporting cells show signs of a very moderate secretory activity, which is different among the species investigated. The microvilli of the supporting cells are not distinguishable from those of the receptor cells. The dendrites of the latter are completely isolated by the apical parts of the supporting cells. The sheet-like processes of the supporting cells contain strands of tonofilaments and do not cover the perikarya of the receptor cells completely. Thus adjacent sensory cells or dendrites and sensory cells are separated among themselves only by the normal intercellular space. The ratio of sensory cells to supporting cells is about 7∶1. The basal cells resemble the supporting cells and replace these in the lower portion of the epithelium. The typical cellular junctions between sensory cells and supporting cells are described. There are no true tight junctions in the vomero-nasal sensory epithelium, and they are most probably absent from the nasal mucosa too. This absence would seem to indicate special conditions for cellular communication and the accessibility of the intercellular space for certain molecules. There is no sign of regeneration of sensory cells. Both immature blastema cells and degenerating receptor cells are not discernible.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Adrian, E. D.: Synchronised activity in the vomero-nasal nerves with a note on the function of the organ of Jacobson. Pflügers Arch. ges. Physiol. 260, 188–192 (1955).
Altner, H.: Untersuchungen über Leistungen und Bau der Nase des südafrikanischen Krallenfrosches Xenopus laevis (Daudin, 1803). Z. vergl. Physiol. 45, 272–306 (1962).
—, Boeckh, J.: Über das Reaktionsspektrum von Rezeptoren aus der Riechschleimhaut von Wasserfröschen. Z. vergl. Physiol. 55, 299–306 (1967).
—, Müller, W.: Elektrophysiologische und elektronenmikroskopische Untersuchungen an der Riechschleimhaut des Jacobsonschen Organs von Eidechsen (Lacerta). Z. vergl. Physiol. 60, 151–155 (1968).
Andres, K. H.: Differenzierung und Regeneration von Sinneszellen in der Regio olfactoria. Naturwissenschaften 52, 500 (1965).
—: Der Feinbau der Regio olfactoria von Makrosmatikern. Z. Zellforsch. 69, 140–154 (1966).
—: Der olfaktorische Saum der Katze. Z. Zellforsch. 96, 250–274 (1969).
Bannister, L. H.: The fine structure of the olfactory surface of teleostean fishes. Quart. J. micr. Sci. 106, 333–342 (1965).
—: Fine structure of the sensory endings in the vomero-nasal organ of the slow-worm Anguis fragilis. Nature (Lond.) 217, 275–276 (1968).
Bloom, G.: Studies on the olfactory epithelium of the frog and the toad with the aid of the light and electron microscope. Z. Zellforsch. 41, 89–100 (1954).
Bullivant, S., Loewenstein, W. R.: Structure of coupled and uncoupled cell junctions. J. Cell Biol. 37, 621–632 (1968).
Choi, J. K.: Electron microscopy of absorption of tracer materials by toad urinary bladder epithelium. J. Cell Biol. 25, 175–192 (1965).
Farquhar, M. D., Palade, G. E.: Junctional complexes in various epithelia. J. Cell Biol. 17, 375–412 (1963).
Frisch, D.: Ultrastructure of mouse olfactory mucosa. Amer. J. Anat. 121, 87–120 (1967).
Gasser, H. S.: Olfactory nerve fibers. J. gen. Physiol. 39, 473–496 (1956).
Gesteland, R. C., Lettvin, J. Y., Pitts, W. H., Rojas, A.: Odor specificities of the frog's olfactory receptors. In: Olfaction and taste, vol. 1 (ed. Y. Zotterman), p. 19–34. Oxford: Pergamon Press 1963.
Graziadei, P.: Electron microscope observations on the olfactory mucosa of the rat. Experientia (Basel) 21, 274–275 (1965).
—: Osservazioni al microscopio elettronico sulla mucosa olfattiva di rana. Atti Accad. Naz. Lincei B 40, 907–911 (1966).
—: Electron microscopic observations of the olfactory mucosa of the mole. J. Zool. (Lond.) 149, 89–94 (1966).
—, Bannister, L. H.: Some observations on the fine structure of the olfactory epithelium in the domestic duck. Z. Zellforsch. 80, 220–228 (1967).
Kahmann, H.: Sinnesphysiologische Studien an Reptilien. Zool. Jb., Abt. Physiol. 51, 173–238 (1932).
—: Zur Chemorezeption der Schlangen. Zool. Anz. 107, 249–263 (1934).
—: Über das Jacobsonsche Organ der Echsen. 2. vergl. Physiol. 26, 669–695 (1939).
Kolmer, W.: Geruchsorgan. In: Handbuch der mikroskopischen Anatomie des Menschen, Bd. 3 (ed. W. v. Möllendorff), S. 192–249. Berlin: Springer 1927.
Leydig, F.: Zur Kenntniss der Sinnesorgane der Schlangen. Arch. mikr. Anat. 8, 317–357 (1872).
Loewenstein, W. R., Nakas, M., Socolar, S. J.: Junctional membrane uncoupling: permeability transformations at a cell membrane junction. J. gen. Physiol. 50, 1865–1891 (1967),
—, Socolar, S. J., Higashino, S., Kanno, Y., Davidson, N.: Intercellular communication: renal, urinary bladder, sensory and salivary gland cells. Science 149, 295–298 (1965).
Lorenzo, A. J. D. de: Studies on the ultrastructure and histophysiology of cell membranes, nerve fibers and synaptic junctions in chemoreceptors. In: Olfaction and taste, vol. 1 (ed. Y. Zottermann), p. 5–18. Oxford: Pergamon Press 1963.
Maunsbach, A. B.: The influence of different fixation methods on the ultrastructure of rat kidney proximal tubule cells. I. J. Ultrastruct. Res. 15, 242–282 (1966).
—: The influence of different fixation methods on the ultrastructure of rat kidney proximal tubule cells. II. J. Ultrastruct. Res. 15, 283–309 (1966).
Moulton, D. G., Beidler, L. M.: Structure and function in the peripheral olfactory system. Physiol. Rev. 47, 1–52 (1967).
—, Tucker, D.: Electrophysiology of the olfactory system. Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci. 116, 380–428 (1964).
Müller, A.: Quantitative Untersuchungen am Riechepithel des Hundes. Z. Zellforsch. 41, 335–350 (1955).
Okano, M.: Fine structure of the canine olfactory hairlets. Arch. hist. jap. 26, 169–185 (1965).
—, Weber, A. F., Frommes, S. P.: Electron microscopic studies of the distal border of the canine olfactory epithelium. J. Ultrastruct. Res. 17, 487–502 (1967).
Reese, T. S.: Olfactory cilia in the frog. J. Cell Biol. 25, 209–230 (1965).
Seifert, K., Ule, G.: Die Ultrastruktur der Riechschleimhaut der neugeborenen und der jugendlichen weißen Maus. Z. Zellforsch. 76, 147–169 (1967).
Sjöstrand, F. S.: Electron microscopy of cells and tissues. I. New York: Academic Press 1967.
Thornhill, R. A.: The ultrastructure of the olfactory epithelium of the lamprey Lampetra fluviatilis. J. Cell Sci. 2, 591–602 (1967).
Tucker, D.: Olfactory, vomeronasal and trigeminal receptor responses to odorants. In: Olfaction and taste, vol. 1 (ed. Y. Zotterman), p. 45–69. Oxford: Pergamon Press 1963.
Vasutake, S.: The fine structure of the olfactory epithelium studied with the electron microscope. J. Kurume med. Ass. 22, 1279–1304 (1959).
Yamamoto, T., Tonosaki, A., Kurosawa, T.: Electron microscope studies on the olfactory epithelium in frogs. Acta Anat. Nippon. 40, 342–353 (1965).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Altner, H., Müller, W. & Brachner, I. The ultrastructure of the vomero-nasal organ in reptilia. Z. Zellforsch. 105, 107–122 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00340567
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00340567