Histomorphological study of olfactory organ in rock dove, Columba livia Gmelin, 1789

Abstract

The present study aimed to investigate the morphological description and histological structure of olfactory organ in rock dove (Columba livia). Results of the present study revealed that the nasal cavity of the species under investigation is anteriorly located, starting with a pair of external nares which located at the dorsal side of the base of upper beak. The external nares lead to two short nasal cavities. Each nasal cavity consist of three conchae or turbinates represented by anterior or vestibular concha, middle or respiratory concha and posterior or olfactory concha. The nasal cavity ended by a pair of internal nares which opened at mouth cavity. Results related with the histological structure of olfactory organ revealed that the vestibular concha lined by stratified squamous epithelium, the respiratory concha lined by ciliated pseudostratified columnar epithelium, and olfactory concha lined by ciliated pseudostratified columnar epithelium. The last concha showed three types of differentiated cell represented by basal cells, supporting cells, and receptor cells.