The mammalian olfactory system employs sophisticated mechanisms to detect and recognize
an extensive range of smells. In rodents, the olfactory epithelium (OE), situated within
the nasal cavity, mainly comprises four defined endoturbinates and several ectoturbinates.
Olfactory receptors (ORs) belong to a large family, comprising over 1,000 genes in
rodents, which are expressed in olfactory sensory neurons in the OE that detect odor
molecules. The rodent OE is divided into four topographically distinct zones, defined by
individual OR distribution. However, although the structural complexity and the zonal
organization of mammalian OE may contribute to successfully interpreting olfactory
information, it remains poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the nasal cavity
structure and zonal organization of the OE in goats. Morphological observations revealed
that the goat nasal cavity possessed well-developed endoturbinates and ectoturbinates and
had a structure similar to that of rodents and sheep, previously reported in other
studies. In situ hybridization was used to analyze the expression pattern
of ORs, NADPH:quinone oxidoreductase 1, and olfactory cell adhesion molecules as markers
of zonal organization in the goat OE. Based on the expression patterns of these genes, we
concluded that the goat OE was divided into four zones. The well-developed structure of
the nasal cavity and distribution of each OR in the OE were similar to those found in
rodents, suggesting that these features were highly conserved between mammals and may have
fundamental roles in discriminating among numerous odor molecules in the environment.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.