The mouse vomeronasal glands: a light and electron microscopical study

Author:
  • AMAndrés S. Mendoza
    Andrés S. Mendoza
Publisher website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The glands of adult mouse vomeronasal organ (VNO) were studied with light- and electro-microscopical techniques. The vomeronasal glands (VN-Gs) consist of several individual glandular complexes distributed along the long axis of the VNO. The secretory products released from VN-G cells enter into the lumen of the VNO in the region of transition between the neuroepithelium and the receptor-free epithelium. The acini show the typical morphological features of serous glands. The secretory cells of these acini are characterized by a round to oval nucleus and a well-developed, rough endoplasmic reticulum, both preferentially located in the basal part of the cell. The supranuclear region is occupied by the Golgi apparatus and secretory granules varying in size and electron density. They accumulate towards the apical part of the cell. Secretory cells are connected by tight junctions, desmosomes and membrane interdigitations, moreover, they are also coupled by gap junctions. Axonal terminals containing clear vesicles and dense-cored vesicles are frequently seen between the secretory cells. Secretory cells are directly related to the thin basal lamina of the acinus; myoepithelial cells are not present. In the lamina propria, numerous smooth muscle cells, blood vessels and nerve bundles containing both myelinated and unmyelinated axons can be observed. An automatic regulation of the activity of the VN-Gs is discussed in relation to the vomeronasal pump.

This publication has 23 references indexed in Scilit: