Abstract
The ultrastructural characteristics of the olfactory epithelia in some animals were described three-dimentionally by scanning electron microscope (SEM). Morphological features of olfactory cilia, olfactory vesicles were characterized in each animals. In special reference to olfactory vesicle and acuity, the olfactory epithelia were classified into five different types. Energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis with SEM of specimen treated with ruthenium red revealed that a larger amount of Ruthenium, Sulfur and Silica identified in the olfactory epithelia than in the respiratory ciliated epithelia. It was presumed that the olfactory mucosa should be covered with a prominent polyanionic surface coat. From these results, the relationship between the characteristics of olfactory epithelia and their physiological roles were discussed.
