Ontogenetic characteristics of the vomeronasal organ in Saguinus geoffroyi and Leontopithecus rosalia, with comparisons to other primates.

نویسندگان

  • Timothy D Smith
  • Kunwar P Bhatnagar
  • Christopher J Bonar
  • Kristin L Shimp
  • Mark P Mooney
  • Michael I Siegel
چکیده

It has been suggested that the variability of the primate vomeronasal organ (VNO) may be greater than previously thought, especially among New World monkeys. It is not clear to what extent VNO variation reflects ontogenetic, functional, or phylogenetic differences among primates. The present study investigated VNO anatomy in an ontogenetic series of two genera of callitrichid primates, in order to assess recent attempts to develop VNO character states and to examine the evidence for VNO functionality at different life stages. A sample of six Leontopithecus rosalia, one L. chrysomelas, and six Saguinus geoffroyi was serially sectioned and stained using various methods. Two adult Callithrix jacchus were also sectioned for comparative purposes. The VNO of each primate was examined by light microscopy along its entire rostrocaudal extent. VNOs of the tamarins were described to determine whether they fit into 1 of 3 character states recently attributed to various New World monkeys. At birth, the two species of tamarins differed in the nature of communication between the VNO and nasopalatine duct (NPD). Two of 3 neonatal S. geoffroyi exhibited a fused VNO duct in a more dorsal position (adjacent to the nasal cavity) compared to that of L. rosalia. The VNO duct communicated with the NPD and was patent in neonatal L. rosalia. Both species appeared to have an age-related increase in the amount of sensory epithelium in the VNO. Subadult L. rosalia had caudal regions of the VNO that were exceptionally well-developed, similar to those of strepsirhine primates. Compared to subadults, all adult callitrichids appeared to have more ventral communications of the VNO duct directly into the NPD. Adult S. geoffroyi and L. chrysomelas both had VNO sensory epithelium separated by multiple patches of nonsensory epithelium. This contrasted with the VNOs of C. jacchus, which had a nearly continuous distribution of receptors on all surfaces of the VNO. The findings indicate that tamarins have delayed maturation of the VNO epithelium, and that some species have little or no perinatal function. These results also suggest that ontogenetic changes in craniofacial form may alter the position of the VNO in tamarins. The present study supports the use of at least two character states to categorize the VNO of various callitrichids, but it is suggested that one of these, previously called "reduced sensory epithelium" should be instead termed "interrupted sensory epithelium." The distribution of VNO sensory epithelium does not appear to reflect phylogenetic influences; it is more likely a functional characteristic that varies throughout postnatal life. Therefore, this chemosensory system has a high degree of plasticity relating to age and function, which in some instances can confound the use of characteristics as phylogenetic traits. Further study is needed to quantify VNO receptors in various species to determine if functional differences exist and if some species have more precocious VNO function than others.

برای دانلود رایگان متن کامل این مقاله و بیش از 32 میلیون مقاله دیگر ابتدا ثبت نام کنید

ثبت نام

اگر عضو سایت هستید لطفا وارد حساب کاربری خود شوید

منابع مشابه

Ontogenetic observations on the vomeronasal organ in two species of tamarins using neuron-specific beta-tubulin III.

Callitrichid primates (tamarins, marmosets) have extreme variation in the vomeronasal organ (VNO), including ontogenetic differences in the neuroepithelium and vomeronasal duct (VND) patency at birth. Such differences render the timing and extent of VNO maturation debatable in callitrichids, but no studies have used neuron-specific immunohistochemical markers to address this question. The prese...

متن کامل

Secondary pneumatization of the maxillary sinus in callitrichid primates: insights from immunohistochemistry and bone cell distribution.

The paranasal sinuses remain elusive both in terms of function and in the proximate mechanism of their development. The present study sought to describe the maxillary sinuses (MSs) in three species of callitrichid primates at birth, a time when secondary pneumatization occurs rapidly in humans. The MSs were examined in serially sectioned and stained slides from the heads of two Callithrix jacch...

متن کامل

Ontogeny of the nasopalatine duct in primates.

Ecological explanations have been put forward to account for the precocious or delayed development of patency in ducts leading to the vomeronasal organ (VNO) in certain mammals. Perinatal function may be related, in part, to the patency or fusion of the vomeronasal and nasopalatine (NPD) ducts. However, few studies have focused on NPD development in primates, which generally have a prolonged pe...

متن کامل

Frugivory and seed dispersal of golden lion tamarin (Leontopithecus rosalia (Linnaeus, 1766)) in a forest fragment in the Atlantic Forest, Brazil.

The influence of the golden lion tamarin (Leontopithecus rosalia) as a seed disperser was studied by monitoring two groups of tamarins from December 1998 to December 2000 (871.9 hours of observations) in a forest fragment in south-east Brazil. The tamarins consumed fruits of 57 species from at least 17 families. They ingested the seeds of 39 species, and 23 of these were put to germinate in the...

متن کامل

ذخیره در منابع من


  با ذخیره ی این منبع در منابع من، دسترسی به آن را برای استفاده های بعدی آسان تر کنید

عنوان ژورنال:
  • American journal of physical anthropology

دوره 121 4  شماره 

صفحات  -

تاریخ انتشار 2003