Postnatal development of vomeronasal gland in the female cats : histological, ultrastructural and morphomertic studies

Abstract EN

Background : the VNO consists of several structures which include the vomeronasal duct(VND), the vomeronasal glands(VNGs), vessels and nerves.

It is the peripheral organ of the accessory olfactory system which detects some types of pheromones.

Several studies are carried on the adult VNO however ; no information's are available on the development of the VNGs in cat which represent one of the examples of early dour perception.

This work aim at investigating the development of the cat's VNGs using histological, histochemical, electron microscopic and morph metric techniques.

Material and methods: A total number of 24 female cats of different ages was used in this study .The animals were equally divided into four groups (GI ; 0-lday,GII ; 2weeks,GIII : month, GIV : 2 months).After sacrifice ,specimens were taken from the VNO for light and electron microscopic studies.

Results : with progress of age, the glandular end pieces and ducts get more branched.

Progressive increase in PAS reaction in VNGs with a mild increase in reaction for Alcan blue occurred with development.

However, the VND revealed Alcan blue reaction at birth and the reaction increased with age progress.

These findings reflect the profuse secretion of neutral main and a limited acid main.

Ultra structurally the developing VNGs exhibited moderate dense cytoplasm containing basal RER and election dense secretory granules which predominant in GI,II.

Both electron dense and electron lucent secretary granules get increased with age progress.

The lamina prairie contained collagen and reticular fibers which increased with age progress.

No elastic fibers were present.

Fenestrated blood capillaries, non-militated and mixed nerve bundles were present also in the surrounding C.

T.

Statistical analysis with ANOVA test revealed a significant increase in count and size of the akin with progress of development.

Conclusion: The morphological data in the present study confirm the functional capability of the VNGs at birth.

let demonstrates marked postnatal development of the VNGs.

The VNGs of the cat are formed of serous, mucous and mixed acing.

Acid mucopolysaccharides appear to be produced mainly by the epithelium lining of the VND.