Anatomical and Histological Study of theVomeronasal Organ In (Ctenodactylus gundi)

Abstract

Ctenodctylus gundi is one of the economically important rodents in many of the North African countries; it is a social animal living in groups of 20 or more members, dominated by one or two males. Literature is very poor concerning studies dealing with this animal in general, especially those concerning anatomy, histology and methods of intraspecific and conspecific communication of this species. In addition to the main olfactory system which is composed of nostrils, nasal cavities and olfactory bulb, these small mammals have an accessory chemosensory system referred to as the Vomeronasal (VN) system This study is intended to shed some light on histological and anatomical representation of the Vomeronasal organ (Jacobson’s organ) of this species, as a continuation to previous studies of scent glands and chemical communication between members of the same species and other species in their natural habitat. Anatomically, the VN organ of gundi represents a chemosensory system; it is anatomically and functionally distinct from the main olfactory system; it is composed of a pair of bilaterally symmetrical epithelial crescent-shaped structures, embedded in an incomplete cartilaginous capsule on each side of the nasal septum. Histologically; the VNO organ crescent-shaped lumen is lined by two different epithelia; (1) sensory epithelium which appears as a somewhat thick layer consisting of three cell types; receptor, supportive and basal, (2) an olfactory epithelium that covers the bulk of the VNO organ consists of a layer of regular olfactory ciliated epithelial cells.