Shared and differential traits in the accessory olfactory bulb of caviomorph rodents with particular reference to the semiaquatic capybara

Suárez, Rodrigo; Santibáñez, Rodrigo; Parra, Daniela; Ribeiro, Antônio Augusto Coppi Maciel; Abrahão, Luciana Maria Bigaram; Sasahara, Taís Harumi de Castro; Mpodozis, Jorge

doi:10.1111/j.1469-7580.2011.01357.x

Cited by 15 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 44 publications

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“…The expression of G proteins observed in the AOB of the newborn capybara (Fig. 9A,B) establish a clear anteroposterior zonation, identical to that observed in the adult AOB 23 : the Gαi2 protein is expressed in the anterior area of the AOB and the Gαo protein in the posterior area. This zonation is also discriminated by the UEA lectin (Fig.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 72%

“…Finally, because the capybara is a precocial species, the use of newborn individuals allowed us to determine whether and how the VNS morphology had adapted to the requirements of a challenging environment, at birth. Although valuable information on the expression of G proteins in the AOB of the adult capybara is available 23 , we have expanded these observations, addressing the main morphological and neurochemical features of both the AOB and the VNO. Our immunohistochemical study paid as well special attention to G proteins because new information on their perinatal expression could be relevant to understanding the role of the VNS at this stage of life.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The vomeronasal system of the newborn capybara: a morphological and immunohistochemical study

Torres

Ortiz‐Leal

Villamayor

et al. 2020

Sci Rep

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the vomeronasal system (VnS) is responsible for the perception mainly of pheromones and kairomones. primarily studied in laboratory rodents, it plays a crucial role in their socio-sexual behaviour. As a wild rodent, the capybara offers a more objective and representative perspective to understand the significance of the system in the Rodentia, avoiding the risk of extrapolating from laboratory rodent strains, exposed to high levels of artificial selection pressure. We have studied the main morphological and immunohistochemical features of the capybara vomeronasal organ (Vno) and accessory olfactory bulb (AoB). the study was done in newborn individuals to investigate the maturity of the system at this early stage. We used techniques such as histological stains, lectinslabelling and immunohistochemical characterization of a range of proteins, including G proteins (Gαi2, Gαo) and olfactory marking protein. As a result, we conclude that the VNS of the capybara at birth is capable of establishing the same function as that of the adult, and that it presents unique features as the high degree of differentiation of the AOB and the active cellular migration in the vomeronasal epithelium. All together makes the capybara a promising model for the study of chemical communication in the first days of life. The vomeronasal system (VNS) is the sensorial system responsible in most vertebrates for the detection of chemosensory signals linked to innate socio-sexual behaviours 1,2. In mammals, the VNS presents a high morphofunctional 3 and genomic 4 diversity among different species. The vomeronasal organ (VNO) specialises in detecting pheromones for the purpose of reproductive behaviours such as maternal aggression and sexual attraction 5. The VNS is also involved in the recognition of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) associated peptides 6 , kairomones 7 and aversive molecules 8. By performing an in-depth study of the macroscopic and microscopic morphological characteristics of the vomeronasal system in the newborn capybara, we aimed to achieve two objectives. On the one hand, we aimed to obtain general information regarding the vomeronasal system in a rodent model that is distinct from most studied laboratory rodents. On the other hand, because the capybara is a precocial animal species, we aimed to determine the degree to which the capybara vomeronasal system morphology at birth has adapted to the requirements of a demanding socio-cognitive environment. Most studies of the VNS have been done on laboratory rodent strains, exposed to artificial selection pressure that do not reflect the selection pressure present in the wild. Therefore, these laboratory strains present significant genetic and behavioural differences compared with wild rodent models 9. The laboratory mouse (Mus musculus) and rat (Rattus norvegicus) may not be representative of all animals that make up this family. A remarkable differential feature among rodents is the altricial character of mice and rats, compared with the precocial character presented by hys...

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 72%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The vomeronasal system of the newborn capybara: a morphological and immunohistochemical study

Torres

Ortiz‐Leal

Villamayor

et al. 2020

Sci Rep

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“…In O. lunatus , the AOB appears as a prominent structure located in the caudal/dorsal region of the main olfactory bulb, with the vomeronasal nerve innervating it from its lateral aspect (as shown by Suárez et al ; Figs a and a). The cross‐sectional area of the AOB varies across its medial−lateral axis, reaching a maximum value at the middle zone (Fig.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 82%

“…The capybara engages in scent‐marking behaviours using oily, non‐volatile molecules secreted by two kinds of scent glands: anal glands and the morrillo gland (located at the top of the snout; MacDonald et al ; Herrera & MacDonald, ). Such scent‐marking mode would be associated with the preferential usage of the V2R pathway and, hence, with an anatomical bias favouring the pAOB (Suárez et al ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Can social behaviour drive accessory olfactory bulb asymmetries? Sister species of caviomorph rodents as a case in point

et al. 2019

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In mammals, the accessory olfactory or vomeronasal system exhibits a wide variety of anatomical arrangements. In caviomorph rodents, the accessory olfactory bulb (AOB) exhibits a dichotomic conformation, in which two subdomains, the anterior (aAOB) and the posterior (pAOB), can be readily distinguished. Interestingly, different species of this group exhibit bias of different sign between the AOB subdomains (aAOB larger than pAOB or vice versa). Such species‐specific biases have been related with contrasting differences in the habitat of the different species (e.g. arid vs. humid environments). Aiming to deepen these observations, we performed a morphometric comparison of the AOB subdomains between two sister species of octodontid rodents, Octodon lunatus and Octodon degus. These species are interesting for comparative purposes, as they inhabit similar landscapes but exhibit contrasting social habits. Previous reports have shown that O. degus, a highly social species, exhibits a greatly asymmetric AOB, in which the aAOB has twice the size of the pAOB and features more and larger glomeruli in its glomerular layer (GL). We found that the same as in O. degus, the far less social O. lunatus also exhibits a bias, albeit less pronounced, to a larger aAOB. In both species, this bias was also evident for the mitral/tufted cells number. But unlike in O. degus, in O. lunatus this bias was not present at the GL. In comparison with O. degus, in O. lunatus the aAOB GL was significantly reduced in volume, while the pAOB GL displayed a similar volume. We conclude that these sister species exhibit a very sharp difference in the anatomical conformation of the AOB, namely, the relative size of the GL of the aAOB subdomain, which is larger in O. degus than in O. lunatus. We discuss these results in the context of the differences in the lifestyle of these species, highlighting the differences in social behaviour as a possible factor driving to distinct AOB morphometries.

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“…Interestingly, although in most mammals studied so far the vomeronasal nerve follows the medial line on its way to the AOB, in caviomorph rodents it follows a lateral course, regardless of the ecotype of species (Suárez and Mpodozis, 2009; Suárez et al, 2011b), reflecting that not all olfactory traits show correlation with life history but rather some traits can be shared within a phylogenetic group.…”

Section: Evolutionary Perspectives: Phylogenetic Interactions Under Cmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mutual influences between the main olfactory and vomeronasal systems in development and evolution

Suárez¹,

García‐González²,

Castro³

2012

Front. Neuroanat.

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The sense of smell plays a crucial role in the sensory world of animals. Two chemosensory systems have been traditionally thought to play-independent roles in mammalian olfaction. According to this, the main olfactory system (MOS) specializes in the detection of environmental odorants, while the vomeronasal system (VNS) senses pheromones and semiochemicals produced by individuals of the same or different species. Although both systems differ in their anatomy and function, recent evidence suggests they act synergistically in the perception of scents. These interactions include similar responses to some ligands, overlap of telencephalic connections and mutual influences in the regulation of olfactory-guided behavior. In the present work, we propose the idea that the relationships between systems observed at the organismic level result from a constant interaction during development and reflects a common history of ecological adaptations in evolution. We review the literature to illustrate examples of developmental and evolutionary processes that evidence these interactions and propose that future research integrating both systems may shed new light on the mechanisms of olfaction.

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Shared and differential traits in the accessory olfactory bulb of caviomorph rodents with particular reference to the semiaquatic capybara

Cited by 15 publications

References 44 publications

The vomeronasal system of the newborn capybara: a morphological and immunohistochemical study

The vomeronasal system of the newborn capybara: a morphological and immunohistochemical study

Can social behaviour drive accessory olfactory bulb asymmetries? Sister species of caviomorph rodents as a case in point

Mutual influences between the main olfactory and vomeronasal systems in development and evolution

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