Histological studies on the vomeronasal organ of sheep (Ovis aries)

Abstract

The histological studies. were conducted on the vomeronasal organ of sheep. The lateral wall of the vomeronasal organ was lined with the pseudostratified columnar ciliated epithelium with goblet cells except at the level of first molar tooth where, olfactory epithelium was observed. The PAS-positive goblet cells had acidic and neutral mucopolysaccharides along with sialomucins and hyaluronic acid. Dense irregular connective tissue, seromucus acini, venous caverns and a few nerve bundles constituted the lateral propria submucosa. The medial wall of the organ also had respiratory epithelium up to sixth transverse ruga, caudal to which olfactory epithelium was observed. A stratified squamous non-keratinized epithelium was observed toward lower median portion at the level of third transverse ruga. The propria submucosa of medial wall had reduced blood vessels and glandular acini but an increased number of nerve bundles. The vomeronsal organ was incompletely surrounded by hyaline cartilage.