ISSN:
1432-0878
Keywords:
Vomeronasal organ
;
Turtles
;
Receptors
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Medicine
Notes:
Summary The functional similarities observed with electrophysiological techniques between olfactory and vomeronasal receptors allow speculation that morphological details essential to the common function should be observed in both cases. Both mucosae have primary receptors within the epithelium which are surrounded, but not completely isolated, by so-called supporting cells. These last secrete a granular product. In both epithelia receptor cells contact each other at the axonal, perikaryal, dendritic and junctional complex levels. The axons of the two types of receptors are unmyelinated and their diameter ranges from 0.1 to 0.4 micron. The most interesting difference between the two types of receptors lies at the level of their exposed endings. The olfactory vesicle, as it is classically represented in olfactory receptors and is common in those of turtles in the form of a ball-like protrusion above the epithelial surface, is usually missing in the vomeronasal receptors. These have a tapering cone-shaped irregular projection always complicated by a set of branched microvilli. They do, furthermore, consistently lack cilia. This observation is in agreement with recent TEM observations. The assumption that cilia are essential in the mechanism of olfactory transduction is discussed on the basis of these anatomical findings.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00335424
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