4种两栖爬行动物嗅器和犁鼻器的显微结构比较

Microstructure Comparison of Olfactory and Vomeronasal Organs in Four Amphibians and Reptiles

用光镜观察了4种两栖爬行动物嗅器和犁鼻器的组织结构。结果显示,北方山溪鲵(Batrachuperus tibetanus)鼻囊内开始分化出犁鼻器,犁鼻器位于嗅器的腹外侧,但犁鼻器还不发达;隆肛蛙(Feirana quadranus)犁鼻器与嗅器虽然共同位于鼻囊内,但犁鼻器较为发达且其周围有发达的犁鼻腺,犁鼻器通过一细小管道与嗅器相通;秦岭蝮(Gloydius qinlingensis)和菜花烙铁头(Trimeresurus jerdonii)犁鼻腔与鼻腔已经完全分离形成两个独立的囊,而且鼻腔又进一步分化为嗅部与呼吸部。说明犁鼻器从有尾两栖动物开始出现,至无尾两栖类开始分化,到蛇类高度发达且成为一个独立器官。犁鼻器的形成是脊椎动物适应陆地生活的直接结果,是四足动物的特征之一。

The microstructure of olfactory and vomeronasal organs in four amphibians and reptiles were examined by light microscopy. The results showed that vomeronasal organ began to differentiate from nasal sac and was located in the lateral side of the olfactory organ in Batrachuperus tibetanus, but it was still underdeveloped. Although olfactory and vomeronasal organs were co-localized in the nasal sac in Feirana quadranus, vomeronasal organ was more developed. There were developed vomeronasal gland around vomeronasal organ and vomeronasal organ was connected with olfactory organ through a fine pipeline. Vomeronasal organ and nasal cavity were separated completely and formed two independent sacs in Gloydius qirdingensis and Trimeresurus jerdonii, and nasal cavity further differentiated into olfactory epithelium and respiration epithelium. These results suggest that the vomeronasal organ first appears in Candata, further differentiates in Anura, and becomes an independent organ in snake. The vertebrate adaption of land living directly results in the formation of vomeronasal organ which is the feature of tetrapod.