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Morphology and histochemistry of the peripheral olfactory organ in the round goby, Neogobius melanostomus (Teleostei: Gobiidae)
Author(s) -
Belanger Rachelle M.,
Smith Cortney M.,
Corkum Lynda D.,
Zielinski Barbara S.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
journal of morphology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.652
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1097-4687
pISSN - 0362-2525
DOI - 10.1002/jmor.10106
Subject(s) - round goby , biology , olfactory system , sensory system , olfactory epithelium , anatomy , olfaction , neogobius , olfactory mucosa , olfactory receptor cell , olfactory tubercle , nasal cavity , olfactory receptor , immunocytochemistry , central nervous system , neuroscience , olfactory bulb , endocrinology , ecology , invasive species , predation
This first comprehensive study of the peripheral olfactory organ from a representative of the large and economically important order of teleost fishes, the Perciformes, shows a compact structure with olfactory sensory neurons distributed widely throughout the olfactory chamber. The spatial organization of the nasal cavity in the bottom‐dwelling round goby (Gobiidae, Neogobius melanostomus ) was examined using impression material injection, immunocytochemistry, and transmission electron microscopy. The olfactory chamber contains a single olfactory lamella; prominent dorsocaudal lachrymal and ethmoidal accessory nasal sacs are situated ventrocaudal to the chamber. The location of the olfactory mucosa within the olfactory chamber is novel for teleost fish, as it extends beyond the ventral surface to the lateral and dorsal regions. Microvillar olfactory sensory neurons and ciliated olfactory sensory neurons were identified by transmission electron microscopy and the spatial distribution of these two cell types was assessed through immunocytochemistry against olfactory receptor coupled G‐proteins. Both G αolf ‐immunoreactive ciliated olfactory sensory neurons and the G αo ‐immunoreactive microvillar form were located throughout the olfactory epithelium. Ciliated crypt cells were G αo immunoreactive and were found throughout the olfactory epithelium of some specimens. The widespread occurrence of olfactory sensory neurons in the olfactory chamber supports the idea that olfactory signaling is important to the survival of the round goby. The prominence of the lachrymal and ethmoidal accessory nasal sacs indicates the capacity to regulate the flow of odorant molecules over the sensory surface of the olfactory sensory neurons, possibly through a pump‐like mechanism driven by opercular activity associated with gill ventilation. J. Morphol. 257:62–71, 2003, © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.