Histological structure of the vomeronasal organ and accessory olfactory bulb and the seasonal changes of olfactory bulb c-Fos expression in Spermophilus dauricus

WANG Heng; WANG Jianli; YANG Chenxi; HE Yating

doi:10.16829/j.slxb.150483

2021 , Vol. 41 >Issue 6: 685 - 694

DOI: https://doi.org/10.16829/j.slxb.150483

ORIGINAL PAPERS

Histological structure of the vomeronasal organ and accessory olfactory bulb and the seasonal changes of olfactory bulb c-Fos expression in Spermophilus dauricus

WANG Heng ,
WANG Jianli ,
YANG Chenxi ,
HE Yating

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College of Biological Sciences and Engineering, North Minzu University, Yinchuan 750021, China

Received date: 2020-10-10

Revised date: 2021-04-26

Online published: 2021-11-12

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Abstract

The vomeronasal organ (VNO) and the accessory olfactory bulb (AOB) in rodents are related to social communication and reproductive behavior, while the main olfactory bulb (MOB) influences foraging behavior. The Daurian ground squirrel (Spermophilus dauricus) is a typical fat-storing hibernator that exhibits low levels of social behaviors. Using histological and immunohistochemical methods, this study has investigated the detailed histological features of the VNO and AOB in the Daurian ground squirrels and how the neuronal activation of the MOB responds to the seasonal variations. There is a large vomeronasal blood vessel in the VNO of the Daurian ground squirrel. The lumen of the VNO is lined laterally by a non-sensory respiratory epithelium (RE) and medially by the sensory epithelium (SE). The RE is thinner than that of the SE, and it consists of pseudostratified columnar epithelium near the lumen. At the middle region of the VNO, no sex differences are observed in either the height or length of the SE, nor in the density of the receptor cells. The AOB is located caudal and dorso-medially relative to the position of the MOB. The AOB strata consist of six layers of cells. The lateral olfactory tract (LOT) passes through the AOB and is positioned above the granule cell layer (GCL). The mitral cell layer (MCL) and GCL in males are longer than that in females. The densities of c-Fos-ir neurons of the glomerular layer (GL), MCL, and GCL in spring (March) and winter (January) are less than that in summer (July) and autumn (October). Furthermore, the external plexiform layer (EPL) displays fewer c-Fos-ir neurons in winter than that in summer and autumn. These results indicate that the olfactory bulb of the Daurian ground squirrel exhibits much weaker neuronal activation in winter and spring, showing a physiological adaptation to hibernation. The present study adds to the body of morphological knowledge on the VNO and AOB and furthers our understanding of the specific acclimatization of the olfactory system to seasonal variation and hibernation in hibernating rodents.

Key words： Daurian ground squirrels; Hibernation; Vomeronasal system; Olfactory bulb; c-Fos; Season

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WANG Heng , WANG Jianli , YANG Chenxi , HE Yating . Histological structure of the vomeronasal organ and accessory olfactory bulb and the seasonal changes of olfactory bulb c-Fos expression in Spermophilus dauricus[J]. ACTA THERIOLOGICA SINICA, 2021 , 41(6) : 685 -694 . DOI: 10.16829/j.slxb.150483

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