Korean J Vet Res.  2013 Mar;53(1):55-60.

A morphological study of vomeronasal organ of Korean black goat (Capra aegagrus hircus)

• Park C
• Yang W
• Bae Y
• Lee Y
• Kang W
• Ahn M
• Shin T

Abstract

The vomeronasal organ (VNO) plays an important role in reproduction and social activities in ruminants including goats. A morphological study on the structure of VNO and its epithelial cells was carried out in Korean black goats. Grossly, the VNO of Korean goats opens into mouth through incisive ducts. Microscopically, the epithelium of VNO consisted of medial sensory epithelium and lateral non-sensory epithelium. Several blood vessels and nerve bundles were observed in the lamina propria encased by vomeronasal cartilage. Immunohistochemical staining showed that protein gene product (PGP) 9.5 was immunostained in the receptor cells of the sensory epithelium and in some cells of the non-sensory epithelium. Galectin-3 was mainly observed in the supporting cells of sensory and non-sensory epithelium. Lectins including wheat germ agglutinin, Ulex europaeus agglutinin, Bandeiraea simplicifolia lectin Isolectin B4, Dolichos biflorus agglutinin and soybean agglutinin used in this study were bound in VNO sensory, non-sensory epithelia as well as in the lamina propria with varying intensity. Collectively, this is a first descriptive morphological study of VNO of Korean black goat with special reference to lectin histochemistry.

Keyword

galectin-3; goat; immunohistochemistry; PGP9.5; vomeronasal organ

MeSH Terms

Blood Vessels
Cartilage
Dolichos
Epithelial Cells
Epithelium
Galectin 3
Goats
Immunohistochemistry
Lectins
Mouth
Mucous Membrane
Plant Lectins
Reproduction
Ruminants
Soybean Proteins
Soybeans
Triticum
Ulex
Vomeronasal Organ
Galectin 3
Lectins
Plant Lectins
Soybean Proteins