Morphological Studies on the Vomeronasal Organ in the Golden Hamster

Abstract

Morphological features of the vomeronasal organ in the golden hamster were examined by light and electron microscopy. This organ consisted of a 7 mm long tubular structure situated bilaterally in the anteroventral nasal septum and enclosed completely by a bony capsule. Posteriorly it ended blindly, whereas anteriorly it communicated with the nasal cavity through an orifice at its rostral end. The sensory epithelium lining the medial wall of the lumen of this organ showed a cell configuration similar to that of the olfactory epithelium except the basal cells. Free surface of the sensory cells in the sensory epithelium was covered with structures intermediate between cilia and microvilli. Capillaries often penetrated into the sensory epithelium, and the vomeronasal nerve observed under the sensory epithelium consisted of nonmyelinated nerve fibers. The respiratory epithelium lining the lateral wall of the lumen of this organ was typically ciliated and pseudostratified, devoid of goblet cells. Mucous and serous acini of Jacobson's glands were distributed on the dorsolateral and ventromedial sides of the lumen. The glands were PAS-positive, different from alcian blue-positive olfactory glands of Bowman. Myelinated and nonmyelinated nerve fibers were often distributed among the acini.