• 대한수의학회지
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• 제29권3호
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• pp.231-237
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• 1989

Morphological features of the vomeronasal organ of both Korean native cattle and Korean native goat were studied by gross, microscopic and histochemical examinations. Anatomical characteristics of the vomeronasl organ were similar in both Korean native cattle and Korean native goats. The vomeronasal organ is a tubular structure situated bilaterally at the base of the nasal septum, and enclosed by hyaline cartilage. Its lumen is semilunar to crescent in transverse sections. It join with the incisive duct through narrow duct. The lumen of the vomeronasal organ is lined with sensory and respiratory epithelia. The distribution pattern of vomeronasal mucosal epithelia varied by the position. In the anterior portion joining with nasal cavity, the lumen is lined with only respiratory epitheliu. In the middle portion, sensory epithelium appeared on the medial side, and respiratory epithelium on the lateral side. In the posterior, it is lined with sensory epithelium on the ventral side and lined with respiratory epithelium on the dorsal side. The vomeronasal gland composed of mucous and serous acini are distributed in the lamina propria under the respiratory epithelium, where venous sinuses are also well developed.

• 한국동물생명공학회지
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• 제36권4호
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• pp.270-284
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• 2021

The vomeronasal organ (VNO) is critical for reproduction and social behavior in ruminants, including cattle. The present study examined the structure of the VNO and its epithelial cells in neonatal and adult Korean native cattle (Hanwoo), Bos taurus coreanae, using immunohistochemistry and lectin histochemistry. Histologically, the VNO comprised two types of epithelia: medial vomeronasal sensory (VSE) and lateral vomeronasal non-sensory epithelia (VNSE). Numerous blood vessels and nerve bundles were observed within the vomeronasal cartilage encased lamina propria. Immunohistochemistry revealed high expression level of protein gene product9.5 and moderate expression level of olfactory marker protein in the neuroreceptor cells of the VSE and occasionally in some ciliated cells of the VNSE in both neonates and adults. The properties of the glycoconjugates in the VNO were investigated using 21 lectins, most of which were expressed at varied intensities in the VSE and VNSE, as well as in the lamina propria. Several lectins exhibited variations in their intensities and localization between neonatal and adult VNOs. This study is the first descriptive lectin histochemical examination of the VNO of Korean native cattle with a focus on lectin histochemistry, confirming that the VNO of Korean native cattle is differentiated during postnatal development.

• 대한수의학회지
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• 제52권1호
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• pp.1-8
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• 2012

Histochemical patterns of lectin binding during development of the rat vomeronasal organ (VNO) were studied to determine whether glycoconjugates are differently expressed after birth. Three types of lectins, Dolichos biflorus agglutinin (DBA), wheat germ agglutinin (WGA), and Ulex europaeus agglutinin I (UEA-I), were studied histochemically in the rat VNO at various stages post-birth: postnatal days 1 and 7, the preweaning period (4 weeks after birth), and at sexual maturity (8 weeks after birth). The free border of the vomeronasal sensory epithelium was positive for both WGA and UEA-I in rats of all ages; whereas, VNO receptor cells and supporting cells were positive only for both WGA and UEA-I from 4 weeks after birth. DBA reactivity was detected in the free border but less so in receptor cells and supporting cells. WGA and UEA-I, but not DBA, showed similar patterns in various ages. In the Jacobson's gland, WGA, UEA-I and DBA were detected in some acini from 4 weeks after birth but not at postnatal days 1 or 7. Collectively, reactivity for three lectins, WGA, UEA-I and DBA, increased in receptor cells and gland acini during postnatal development, possibly contributing to the enhanced chemoreception in rats.

• 대한수의학회지
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• 제53권1호
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• pp.55-60
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• 2013

The vomeronasal organ (VNO) plays an important role in reproduction and social activities in ruminants including goats. A morphological study on the structure of VNO and its epithelial cells was carried out in Korean black goats. Grossly, the VNO of Korean goats opens into mouth through incisive ducts. Microscopically, the epithelium of VNO consisted of medial sensory epithelium and lateral non-sensory epithelium. Several blood vessels and nerve bundles were observed in the lamina propria encased by vomeronasal cartilage. Immunohistochemical staining showed that protein gene product (PGP) 9.5 was immunostained in the receptor cells of the sensory epithelium and in some cells of the non-sensory epithelium. Galectin-3 was mainly observed in the supporting cells of sensory and non-sensory epithelium. Lectins including wheat germ agglutinin, Ulex europaeus agglutinin, Bandeiraea simplicifolia lectin Isolectin B4, Dolichos biflorus agglutinin and soybean agglutinin used in this study were bound in VNO sensory, non-sensory epithelia as well as in the lamina propria with varying intensity. Collectively, this is a first descriptive morphological study of VNO of Korean black goat with special reference to lectin histochemistry.

• Animal cells and systems
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• 제6권3호
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• pp.233-237
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• 2002

The pheromonal repelling response occurs when a combination of female and male pheromones is found to be less attractive to courting males than are female pheromones alone. This repelling response may act to conserve a courting males’reproductive fitness by minimizing ma1e-male competition within a courting group. Recently, a Pheromonal repelling response was first reported for vertebrates in the red-spotted newt, Notophthalmus viride-scens. A male cloacal pheromone, a ∼33 kDa protein, was identified as a repelling pheromone. In this study, to determine whether both the main olfactory epithelium (MOE) and/or the vomeronasal organ (VNO) are activated by the repelling pheromone, we recorded electrical field potentials from both olfactory epithelia while applying the repelling pheromone. The repelling pheromone induced electrical responses from both olfactory organs, and the magnitude of the response was greater in the VNO than in the MOE. Our results suggest that both the VNO and MOE may be involved in the pheromonal repelling response.

• 대한수의학회지
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• 제41권3호
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• pp.269-273
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• 2001

The expression of protein kinase C(PKC) isoforms and nitric oxide synthase (NOs) isoforms was studied in the equine vomeronasal organ(VNO), a pheromone receptor organ, using immunohistochemistry. All PKC isoforms including PKC $\alpha$, ${\beta}I$, $\delta$, and $\theta$ were detected in the supporting cells, sensory receptor cells, and basal sensory epithelial cells, while constitutive PKC $\alpha$ and ${\beta}I$ were stained more intensely than novel PKC $\delta$ and ${\theta}$. There was also a varying degree of immunostaining for PKCs in the glandular acini and VNO nerve. Constitutive neuronal and endothelial NOSs, and inducible NOS were detected in the VNO sensory epithelia. There was intense immunoreactivity for endothelial NOS in the VNO sensory epithelia but weak reactivity for neuronal NOS, while inducible NOS showed little immunoreactivity in the adjacent section. These findings suggest that both PKCs and NOSs may be involved in the process of pheromone reception in the horse. Constitutive isoforms of these enzymes may play a more important role in signal trasduction in the VNO of the horse.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제26권5호
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• pp.503-513
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• 2008

The vomeronasal organ (VNO) is a sensory organ that influences social and/or reproductive behavior and, in many cases, the survival of an organism. The VNO is believed to mediate responses to pheromones; however, many mechanisms of signal transduction in the VNO remain elusive. Here, we examined the expression of proteins involved in signal transduction that are found in the main olfactory system in the VNO. The localization of many signaling molecules in the VNO is quite different from those in the main olfactory system, suggesting differences in signal transduction mechanisms between these two chemosensory organs. Various signaling molecules are expressed in distinct areas of VNO sensory epithelium. Interestingly, we found the expressions of groups of these signaling molecules in glandular tissues adjacent to VNO, supporting the physiological significance of these glandular tissues. Our finding of high expression of signaling proteins in glandular tissues suggests that neurohumoral factors influence glandular tissues to modulate signaling cascades that in turn alter the responses of the VNO to hormonal status.

• 한국발생생물학회지:발생과생식
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• 제10권3호
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• pp.159-168
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• 2006

설치류를 포함한 대부분의 포유동물은 페로몬 반응을 중개하는 두 개의 화학감각 시스템(chemosensory system)을 갖고 있는데, 각각 주후각시스템(main olfactory system, MOS)과 부후각시스템(accesory olfactory system, AOS)이다. MOS에 속하는 화학감각뉴런들은 주후각 상피 내에 위치하며, AOS에 속하는 화학감각뉴런들은 비강 윗부분의 서골비기관(vomeronasal organ, VNO)에 위치한다. 공기 중의 비휘발성 페로몬 성분들은 구개 위쪽으로 열린 관을 통해 VNO의 내강으로 이동한다. 페로몬 수용체 단백질들은 크게 두 개의 슈퍼패밀리 V1R과 V2R로 나뉘는데, 이들은 구조적으로 큰 차이가 있으며 MOS에서 발현되는 후각 수용체들과는 무관하다. 이들은 7개의 막관통 도메인을 갖는 G-단백질 결부 단백질(seven transmembrane domain G-protein coupled proteins, V1R은 $G_{{\alpha}i2}$와, 그리고 V2R은 $G_{0\;{\alpha}}$와 연관)이다. V2R은 비고전적 MHC Ib 유전자 산물인 M10과 기타 8개의 M1 패밀리 단백질들과 함께 작용한다. 그 외 VNO 뉴런의 중요한 구성 분자는 TrpC2로, 이는 transient receptor potential(TRP)의 양이온 채널 단백질이며 세포내 신호전달과정에서 중요한 역할을 할 것으로 추정된다. 포유동물의 화학적 의사소통과정에서 페로몬은 작용 모드 또는 효과에 따라 4종류로 분류할 수 있는데, 프라이머(primer), 신호자(signaler), 조정자(modulator) 그리고 방출자(releaser)이다. 근본적으로 이들 화학신호에 대한 반응들은 개체 간, 심지어는 한 개체 내에서도 다양할 수 있다. 이러한 다양성은 페로몬이 스테로이드 호르몬들과 함께 또는 단독으로, 신경전달물질들과 같은 비스테로이드 요인들의 후각정보 처리 과정에 미치는 각종 조절의 차이에 의해 나타날 수 있다. 이러한 조절은 유리한 사회적, 환경적인 조건들을 갖도록 수용자의 생식 축에 미치는 영향을 증강 또는 촉진한다. 가장 좋은 예는 수컷 생쥐의 소변 중의 테스토스테론 의존적인 주요 요단백질(major urinary proteins, MUPs)에 의한 임신방지효과(Bruce 효과)이다. 흥미롭게도 생쥐 GnRH 뉴런은 냄새와 페로몬 양자 모두로부터 페로몬 신호를 수용하는 것 같다. 비록 상당한 논란의 소지는 있지만, 그간의 연구들은 생식과 기타 여러 기능들 사이에 복잡한 상호교차 관계가 있음을 시사한다. 여기서 GnRH 뉴런은 다양한 원천으로부터의 정보를 통합하고, 다시 다양한 뇌기능을 조절하는 것으로 보인다.

• 한국가축번식학회지
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• 제12권1호
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• pp.48-50
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• 1988

Flehmen is well-known response which often occurs during the process of courtship in most mammals. Recent studies with domestic ruminants suggest that the flehmen may be involved in the mechanism of transferring some pheromonal substances to vomeronasal organ. Thus, variety of its significancehas been supposed, besides that male animals may use it for estrus detection. In this experiment, 8 male, 3 female and3 castrated goats of Saanen and its hybrid were used to ascertain whether urine from alien species can induce flehmen as that from same species. Urine was collected from twenty species consisting of 15 mammals, 3 birds and 2 reptiles and frozen until use. Mostly urine was sprayed to the nose of goats, but some coagulated ones were sniffed. Duration of flehmen was scored to four ranks as 0, 1-19, 20-39 and >40 sec. Each urine sample induced the response in any goats. However, much difference in the in tensity was found between the samples and according to the reproductive state of the receptor goats. Although individual difference was manifest, male goats generally showed more intense response than did female. Castrated goats showed the intermediate pattern. Administration of antiandrogen to the male goat tended to reduce the response. The results indicate that flehmen in the goat could occur for the urine of alien species as that of same species and the androgen may be one of the factors regulating the response.

• 한국동물생명공학회지
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• 제36권4호
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• pp.292-298
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• 2021

Olfactory receptors (OR) are primarily responsible for the detection of odorant molecules. We previously demonstrated that OR7D4, an OR for androstenone, is expressed in the vomeronasal organ and olfactory epithelium tissue of stallions. Recently, the expression of OR1I1 in the human testes was reported and the possible roles of OR1I1 in the testicular cells were suggested. The objectives of this study were 1) to explore the expression of OR7D4 and OR1I1 in stallion testes, and 2) to define the specific localization of OR7D4 and OR1I1 in the testicular tissues. Stallion testicular tissue samples were used for this study. Western blot was performed to confirm the cross-reactivity of OR7D4 and OR1I1 antibody with stallion testicular tissue samples. OR7D4 and OR1I1 gene expressions were investigated using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in stallion testes. Immunofluorescence was performed to investigate the expression of OR7D4 and OR1I1 in stallion testicular tissues. The protein bands for OR7D4 and OR1I1 from the testes were observed at approximately 38 kDa and 43 kDa, respectively. The mRNA of OR7D4 and OR1I1 were detected in stallion testes. Immunolabeling of OR7D4 and OR1I1 in the cytoplasm of both spermatogonia and Leydig cells was observed. In conclusion, androstenone and another odorant chemical, which is recognized by OR1I1, may play an important role in stallion testes.