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Developmental changes in cytochrome oxidase histochemistry in the main and accessory olfactory bulbs of embryonic and neonatal garter snakes ( Thamnophis sirtalis spp.)
Author(s) -
Holtzman David A.,
Gordon Evan,
Halpern Mimi
Publication year - 1993
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.1052180307
Subject(s) - vomeronasal organ , thamnophis sirtalis , biology , olfactory system , olfactory bulb , embryogenesis , anatomy , endocrinology , microbiology and biotechnology , embryo , neuroscience , zoology , central nervous system
Developmental studies examining the changes in oxidative metabolic activity are useful for understanding how and if the vomeronasal and olfactory systems respond to stimulation during embryogenesis. Garter snakes are good candidates for examining the potential functionality of the vomeronasal system in utero. In adult garter snakes, the vomeronasal system mediates many behaviors. Neonatal garter snakes exhibit these same behaviors, and the vomeronasal system has been shown to mediate feeding behavior in neonates. Using cytochrome oxidase histochemistry, we examined changes in the oxidative metabolic activity of main and accessory olfactory bulbs of embryonic and neonatal garter snakes ( Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis and T. s. parietalis ). Cytochrome oxidase staining is greater in the accessory olfactory bulb than in the main olfactory bulb of embryonic garter snakes. However, neonates show no differences in the staining of the accessory and main olfactory bulbs, suggesting a change in the stimulation of the main olfactory bulb after birth. This is the first report of cytochrome oxidase histochemistry in reptiles and in the vomeronasal system of embryonic vertebrates. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.