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Ruiz-Rubio S, Ortiz-Leal I, Torres MV, Somoano A, Sanchez-Quinteiro P. Do fossorial water voles have a functional vomeronasal organ? A histological and immunohistochemical study. Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2024; 307:2912-2932. [PMID: 38112130 DOI: 10.1002/ar.25374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Revised: 12/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023]
Abstract
The fossorial water vole, Arvicola scherman, is an herbivorous rodent that causes significant agricultural damages. The application of cairomones and alarm pheromones emerges as a promising sustainable method to improve its integrated management. These chemical signals would induce stress responses that could interfere with the species regular reproductive cycles and induce aversive reactions, steering them away from farmlands and meadows. However, there is a paucity of information regarding the water vole vomeronasal system, both in its morphological foundations and its functionality, making it imperative to understand the same for the application of chemical communication in pest control. This study fills the existing gaps in knowledge through a morphological and immunohistochemical analysis of the fossorial water vole vomeronasal organ. The study is primarily microscopic, employing two approaches: histological, using serial sections stained with various dyes (hematoxylin-eosin, Periodic acid-Schiff, Alcian blue, Nissl), and immunohistochemical, applying various markers that provide morphofunctional and structural information. These procedures have confirmed the presence of a functional vomeronasal system in fossorial water voles, characterized by a high degree of differentiation and a significant expression of cellular markers indicative of active chemical communication in this species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Ruiz-Rubio
- Department of Anatomy, Animal Production and Clinical Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain
| | - Irene Ortiz-Leal
- Department of Anatomy, Animal Production and Clinical Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain
| | - Mateo V Torres
- Department of Anatomy, Animal Production and Clinical Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain
| | - Aitor Somoano
- Servicio Regional de Investigación y Desarrollo Agroalimentario (SERIDA), Villaviciosa, Asturias, Spain
| | - Pablo Sanchez-Quinteiro
- Department of Anatomy, Animal Production and Clinical Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain
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2
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Ortiz-Leal I, Torres MV, López-Beceiro A, Fidalgo L, Shin T, Sanchez-Quinteiro P. First Immunohistochemical Demonstration of the Expression of a Type-2 Vomeronasal Receptor, V2R2, in Wild Canids. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:7291. [PMID: 39000398 PMCID: PMC11241633 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25137291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2024] [Revised: 06/20/2024] [Accepted: 06/29/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
The mammalian vomeronasal system enables the perception of chemical signals crucial for social communication via the receptor families V1R and V2R. These receptors are linked with the G-protein subunits, Gαi2 and Gαo, respectively. Exploring the evolutionary pathways of V1Rs and V2Rs across mammalian species remains a significant challenge, particularly when comparing genomic data with emerging immunohistochemical evidence. Recent studies have revealed the expression of Gαo in the vomeronasal neuroepithelium of wild canids, including wolves and foxes, contradicting predictions based on current genomic annotations. Our study provides detailed immunohistochemical evidence, mapping the expression of V2R receptors in the vomeronasal sensory epithelium, focusing particularly on wild canids, specifically wolves and foxes. An additional objective involves contrasting these findings with those from domestic species like dogs to highlight the evolutionary impacts of domestication on sensory systems. The employment of a specific antibody raised against the mouse V2R2, a member of the C-family of vomeronasal receptors, V2Rs, has confirmed the presence of V2R2-immunoreactivity (V2R2-ir) in the fox and wolf, but it has revealed the lack of expression in the dog. This may reflect the impact of domestication on the regression of the VNS in this species, in contrast to their wild counterparts, and it underscores the effects of artificial selection on sensory functions. Thus, these findings suggest a more refined chemical detection capability in wild species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Ortiz-Leal
- Department of Anatomy, Animal Production and Clinical Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Santiago de Compostela, Av. Carballo Calero s/n, 27002 Lugo, Spain
| | - Mateo V Torres
- Department of Anatomy, Animal Production and Clinical Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Santiago de Compostela, Av. Carballo Calero s/n, 27002 Lugo, Spain
| | - Ana López-Beceiro
- Department of Anatomy, Animal Production and Clinical Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Santiago de Compostela, Av. Carballo Calero s/n, 27002 Lugo, Spain
| | - Luis Fidalgo
- Department of Anatomy, Animal Production and Clinical Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Santiago de Compostela, Av. Carballo Calero s/n, 27002 Lugo, Spain
| | - Taekyun Shin
- College of Veterinary Medicine and Veterinary Medical Research Institute, Jeju National University, Jeju 63243, Republic of Korea
| | - Pablo Sanchez-Quinteiro
- Department of Anatomy, Animal Production and Clinical Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Santiago de Compostela, Av. Carballo Calero s/n, 27002 Lugo, Spain
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3
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Kondoh D, Tonomori W, Iwasaki R, Tomiyasu J, Kaneoya Y, Kawai YK, Ikuta S, Kobayashi H, Kobayashi M. The vomeronasal organ and incisive duct of harbor seals are modified to secrete acidic mucus into the nasal cavity. Sci Rep 2024; 14:11779. [PMID: 38783070 PMCID: PMC11116377 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-62711-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Most terrestrial mammals have a vomeronasal system to detect specific chemicals. The peripheral organ of this system is a vomeronasal organ (VNO) opening to the incisive duct, and its primary integrative center is an accessory olfactory bulb (AOB). The VNO in seals is thought to be degenerated like whales and manatees, unlike otariids, because of the absence of the AOB. However, olfaction plays pivotal roles in seals, and thus we conducted a detailed morphological evaluation of the vomeronasal system of three harbor seals (Phoca vitulina). The VNO lumen was not found, and the incisive duct did not open into the oral cavity but was recognized as a fossa on the anteroventral side of the nasal cavity. This fossa is rich in mucous glands that secrete acidic mucopolysaccharides, which might originate from the vomeronasal glands. The olfactory bulb consisted only of a main olfactory bulb that received projections from the olfactory mucosa, but an AOB region was not evident. These findings clarified that harbor seals do not have a VNO to detect some chemicals, but the corresponding region is a specialized secretory organ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daisuke Kondoh
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan.
| | - Wataru Tonomori
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan
- Department of Geology and Paleontology, National Museum of Nature and Science, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
- Ashoro Museum of Paleontology, Ashoro, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Ryota Iwasaki
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Jumpei Tomiyasu
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Yuka Kaneoya
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Yusuke K Kawai
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Shun Ikuta
- Incorporated Non-Profit Organization, Marine Wildlife Center of Japan, Abashiri, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Hayao Kobayashi
- Faculty of Bioindustry, Tokyo University of Agriculture, Abashiri, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Mari Kobayashi
- Incorporated Non-Profit Organization, Marine Wildlife Center of Japan, Abashiri, Hokkaido, Japan
- Faculty of Bioindustry, Tokyo University of Agriculture, Abashiri, Hokkaido, Japan
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4
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Niimura Y, Biswa BB, Kishida T, Toyoda A, Fujiwara K, Ito M, Touhara K, Inoue-Murayama M, Jenkins SH, Adenyo C, Kayang BB, Koide T. Synchronized Expansion and Contraction of Olfactory, Vomeronasal, and Taste Receptor Gene Families in Hystricomorph Rodents. Mol Biol Evol 2024; 41:msae071. [PMID: 38649162 PMCID: PMC11035023 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msae071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 03/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Chemical senses, including olfaction, pheromones, and taste, are crucial for the survival of most animals. There has long been a debate about whether different types of senses might influence each other. For instance, primates with a strong sense of vision are thought to have weakened olfactory abilities, although the oversimplified trade-off theory is now being questioned. It is uncertain whether such interactions between different chemical senses occur during evolution. To address this question, we examined four receptor gene families related to olfaction, pheromones, and taste: olfactory receptor (OR), vomeronasal receptor type 1 and type 2 (V1R and V2R), and bitter taste receptor (T2R) genes in Hystricomorpha, which is morphologically and ecologically the most diverse group of rodents. We also sequenced and assembled the genome of the grasscutter, Thryonomys swinderianus. By examining 16 available genome assemblies alongside the grasscutter genome, we identified orthologous gene groups among hystricomorph rodents for these gene families to separate the gene gain and loss events in each phylogenetic branch of the Hystricomorpha evolutionary tree. Our analysis revealed that the expansion or contraction of the four gene families occurred synchronously, indicating that when one chemical sense develops or deteriorates, the others follow suit. The results also showed that V1R/V2R genes underwent the fastest evolution, followed by OR genes, and T2R genes were the most evolutionarily stable. This variation likely reflects the difference in ligands of V1R/V2Rs, ORs, and T2Rs: species-specific pheromones, environment-based scents, and toxic substances common to many animals, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshihito Niimura
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan
| | - Bhim B Biswa
- Mouse Genomics Resource Laboratory, National Institute of Genetics, Mishima, Japan
- Department of Genetics, SOKENDAI (The Graduate University for Advanced Studies), Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Takushi Kishida
- Curatorial Division, Museum of Natural and Environmental History, Shizuoka, Japan
- Present address: College of Bioresource Sciences, Nihon University, Fujisawa, Japan
| | - Atsushi Toyoda
- Comparative Genomics Laboratory, National Institute of Genetics, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Kazumichi Fujiwara
- Mouse Genomics Resource Laboratory, National Institute of Genetics, Mishima, Japan
| | - Masato Ito
- Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazushige Touhara
- Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | - Scott H Jenkins
- Wildlife Research Center, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
- Present address: Biosphere Informatics Laboratory, Department of Social Informatics, Graduate School of Informatics, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Christopher Adenyo
- Livestock and Poultry Research Centre, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Boniface B Kayang
- Department of Animal Science, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Tsuyoshi Koide
- Mouse Genomics Resource Laboratory, National Institute of Genetics, Mishima, Japan
- Department of Genetics, SOKENDAI (The Graduate University for Advanced Studies), Shizuoka, Japan
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5
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Yohe LR, Krell NT. An updated synthesis of and outstanding questions in the olfactory and vomeronasal systems in bats: Genetics asks questions only anatomy can answer. Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2023; 306:2765-2780. [PMID: 37523493 DOI: 10.1002/ar.25290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2023] [Revised: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 08/02/2023]
Abstract
The extensive diversity observed in bat nasal chemosensory systems has been well-documented at the histological level. Understanding how this diversity evolved and developing hypotheses as to why particular patterns exist require a phylogenetic perspective, which was first outlined in the work of anatomist Kunwar Bhatnagar. With the onset of genetics and genomics, it might be assumed that the puzzling patterns observed in the morphological data have been clarified. However, there is still a widespread mismatch of genetic and morphological correlations among bat chemosensory systems. Novel genomic evidence has set up new avenues to explore that demand more evidence from anatomical structures. Here, we outline the progress that has been made in both morphological and molecular studies on the olfactory and vomeronasal systems in bats since the work of Bhatnagar. Genomic data of olfactory and vomeronasal receptors demonstrate the strong need for further morphological sampling, with a particular focus on receiving brain regions, glands, and ducts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurel R Yohe
- Department of Bioinformatics and Genomics, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
- North Carolina Research Campus, Kannapolis, North Carolina, USA
| | - Nicholas T Krell
- Department of Bioinformatics and Genomics, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
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Torres MV, Ortiz-Leal I, Ferreiro A, Rois JL, Sanchez-Quinteiro P. Immunohistological study of the unexplored vomeronasal organ of an endangered mammal, the dama gazelle (Nanger dama). Microsc Res Tech 2023; 86:1206-1233. [PMID: 37494657 DOI: 10.1002/jemt.24392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Revised: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023]
Abstract
Dama gazelle is a threatened and rarely studied species found primarily in northern Africa. Human pressure has depleted the dama gazelle population from tens of thousands to a few hundred individuals. Since 1970, a founder population consisting of the last 17 surviving individuals in Western Sahara has been maintained in captivity, reproducing naturally. In preparation for the future implementation of assisted reproductive technology, certain aspects of dama gazelle reproductive biology have been established. However, the role played by semiochemical-mediated communications in the sexual behavior of dama gazelle remains unknown due partially to a lack of a neuroanatomical or morphofunctional characterization of the dama gazelle vomeronasal organ (VNO), which is the sensory organ responsible for pheromone processing. The present study characterized the dama gazelle VNO, which appears fully equipped to perform neurosensory functions, contributing to current understanding of interspecies VNO variability among ruminants. By employing histological, lectin-histochemical, and immunohistochemical techniques, we conducted a detailed morphofunctional evaluation of the dama gazelle VNO along its entire longitudinal axis. Our findings of significant structural and neurochemical transformation along the entire VNO suggest that future studies of the VNO should take a similar approach. The present study contributes to current understanding of dama gazelle VNO, providing a basis for future studies of semiochemical-mediated communications and reproductive management in this species. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: This exhaustive immunohistological study of the vomeronasal organ (VNO) of the dama gazelle provides the first evidence of notable differences in the expression of neuronal markers along the rostrocaudal axis of the VNO. This provides a morphological basis for the implementation of pheromones in captive populations of dama gazelle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mateo V Torres
- Department of Anatomy, Animal Production and Clinical Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain
| | - Irene Ortiz-Leal
- Department of Anatomy, Animal Production and Clinical Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain
| | | | | | - Pablo Sanchez-Quinteiro
- Department of Anatomy, Animal Production and Clinical Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain
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7
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Sakuma A, Zhang Z, Suzuki E, Nagasawa T, Nikaido M. A transcriptomic reevaluation of the accessory olfactory organ in Bichir (Polypterus senegalus). ZOOLOGICAL LETTERS 2022; 8:5. [PMID: 35135614 PMCID: PMC8822828 DOI: 10.1186/s40851-022-00189-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 11/14/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Fish possess one olfactory organ called the olfactory epithelium (OE), by which various chemical substances are detected. On the other hand, tetrapods possess two independent olfactory organs called the main olfactory epithelium (MOE) and vomeronasal organ (VNO), each of which mainly detects general odorants and pheromones, respectively. Traditionally, the VNO, so-called concentrations of vomeronasal neurons, was believed to have originated in tetrapods. However, recent studies have identified a primordial VNO in lungfish, implying that the origin of the VNO was earlier than traditionally expected. In this study, we examined the presence/absence of the VNO in the olfactory organ of bichir (Polypterus senegalus), which is the most ancestral group of extant bony vertebrates. In particular, we conducted a transcriptomic evaluation of the accessory olfactory organ (AOO), which is anatomically separated from the main olfactory organ (MOO) in bichir. As a result, several landmark genes specific to the VNO and MOE in tetrapods were both expressed in the MOO and AOO, suggesting that these organs were not functionally distinct in terms of pheromone and odorant detection. Instead, differentially expressed gene (DEG) analysis showed that DEGs in AOO were enriched in genes for cilia movement, implying its additional and specific function in efficient water uptake into the nasal cavity other than chemosensing. This transcriptomic study provides novel insight into the long-standing question of AOO function in bichir and suggests that VNO originated in the lineage of lobe-finned fish during vertebrate evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atsuhiro Sakuma
- School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, 152-8550, Japan
| | - Zicong Zhang
- School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, 152-8550, Japan
- Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8501, Japan
| | - Eri Suzuki
- School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, 152-8550, Japan
| | - Tatsuki Nagasawa
- School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, 152-8550, Japan
| | - Masato Nikaido
- School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, 152-8550, Japan.
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8
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Phenotyping in the era of genomics: MaTrics—a digital character matrix to document mammalian phenotypic traits. Mamm Biol 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s42991-021-00192-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
AbstractA new and uniquely structured matrix of mammalian phenotypes, MaTrics (Mammalian Traits for Comparative Genomics) in a digital form is presented. By focussing on mammalian species for which genome assemblies are available, MaTrics provides an interface between mammalogy and comparative genomics.MaTrics was developed within a project aimed to find genetic causes of phenotypic traits of mammals using Forward Genomics. This approach requires genomes and comprehensive and recorded information on homologous phenotypes that are coded as discrete categories in a matrix. MaTrics is an evolving online resource providing information on phenotypic traits in numeric code; traits are coded either as absent/present or with several states as multistate. The state record for each species is linked to at least one reference (e.g., literature, photographs, histological sections, CT scans, or museum specimens) and so MaTrics contributes to digitalization of museum collections. Currently, MaTrics covers 147 mammalian species and includes 231 characters related to structure, morphology, physiology, ecology, and ethology and available in a machine actionable NEXUS-format*. Filling MaTrics revealed substantial knowledge gaps, highlighting the need for phenotyping efforts. Studies based on selected data from MaTrics and using Forward Genomics identified associations between genes and certain phenotypes ranging from lifestyles (e.g., aquatic) to dietary specializations (e.g., herbivory, carnivory). These findings motivate the expansion of phenotyping in MaTrics by filling research gaps and by adding taxa and traits. Only databases like MaTrics will provide machine actionable information on phenotypic traits, an important limitation to genomics. MaTrics is available within the data repository Morph·D·Base (www.morphdbase.de).
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9
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Tirindelli R. Coding of pheromones by vomeronasal receptors. Cell Tissue Res 2021; 383:367-386. [PMID: 33433690 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-020-03376-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2020] [Accepted: 12/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Communication between individuals is critical for species survival, reproduction, and expansion. Most terrestrial species, with the exception of humans who predominantly use vision and phonation to create their social network, rely on the detection and decoding of olfactory signals, which are widely known as pheromones. These chemosensory cues originate from bodily fluids, causing attractive or avoidance behaviors in subjects of the same species. Intraspecific pheromone signaling is then crucial to identify sex, social ranking, individuality, and health status, thus establishing hierarchies and finalizing the most efficient reproductive strategies. Indeed, all these features require fine tuning of the olfactory systems to detect molecules containing this information. To cope with this complexity of signals, tetrapods have developed dedicated olfactory subsystems that refer to distinct peripheral sensory detectors, called the main olfactory and the vomeronasal organ, and two minor structures, namely the septal organ of Masera and the Grueneberg ganglion. Among these, the vomeronasal organ plays the most remarkable role in pheromone coding by mediating several behavioral outcomes that are critical for species conservation and amplification. In rodents, this organ is organized into two segregated neuronal subsets that express different receptor families. To some extent, this dichotomic organization is preserved in higher projection areas of the central nervous system, suggesting, at first glance, distinct functions for these two neuronal pathways. Here, I will specifically focus on this issue and discuss the role of vomeronasal receptors in mediating important innate behavioral effects through the recognition of pheromones and other biological chemosignals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Tirindelli
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Via Volturno, 39, 43125, Parma, Italy.
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10
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Nikaido M, Kondo S, Zhang Z, Wu J, Nishihara H, Niimura Y, Suzuki S, Touhara K, Suzuki Y, Noguchi H, Minakuchi Y, Toyoda A, Fujiyama A, Sugano S, Yoneda M, Kai C. Comparative genomic analyses illuminate the distinct evolution of megabats within Chiroptera. DNA Res 2020; 27:5910551. [PMID: 32966557 PMCID: PMC7547651 DOI: 10.1093/dnares/dsaa021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2020] [Accepted: 09/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The revision of the sub-order Microchiroptera is one of the most intriguing outcomes in recent mammalian molecular phylogeny. The unexpected sister–taxon relationship between rhinolophoid microbats and megabats, with the exclusion of other microbats, suggests that megabats arose in a relatively short period of time from a microbat-like ancestor. In order to understand the genetic mechanism underlying adaptive evolution in megabats, we determined the whole-genome sequences of two rousette megabats, Leschenault’s rousette (Rousettus leschenaultia) and the Egyptian fruit bat (R. aegyptiacus). The sequences were compared with those of 22 other mammals, including nine bats, available in the database. We identified that megabat genomes are distinct in that they have extremely low activity of SINE retrotranspositions, expansion of two chemosensory gene families, including the trace amine receptor (TAAR) and olfactory receptor (OR), and elevation of the dN/dS ratio in genes for immunity and protein catabolism. The adaptive signatures discovered in the genomes of megabats may provide crucial insight into their distinct evolution, including key processes such as virus resistance, loss of echolocation, and frugivorous feeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masato Nikaido
- School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152-8550, Japan
| | - Shinji Kondo
- Advanced Genomics Center, National Institute of Genetics, Mishima, Shizuoka 411-8540, Japan.,Joint Support-Center for Data Science Research, Research Organization of Information and Systems, Mishima, Shizuoka 411-8540, Japan
| | - Zicong Zhang
- Department of Computational Intelligence and Systems Science, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Yokohama, Kanagawa 226-8502, Japan
| | - Jiaqi Wu
- School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152-8550, Japan
| | - Hidenori Nishihara
- School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 226-8501, Japan
| | - Yoshihito Niimura
- Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
| | - Shunta Suzuki
- Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
| | - Kazushige Touhara
- Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
| | - Yutaka Suzuki
- Department of Medical Genome Sciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa City, Chiba 277-0882, Japan
| | - Hideki Noguchi
- Advanced Genomics Center, National Institute of Genetics, Mishima, Shizuoka 411-8540, Japan.,Joint Support-Center for Data Science Research, Research Organization of Information and Systems, Mishima, Shizuoka 411-8540, Japan
| | - Yohei Minakuchi
- Comparative Genomics Laboratory, National Institute of Genetics, Mishima, Shizuoka 411-8540, Japan
| | - Atsushi Toyoda
- Advanced Genomics Center, National Institute of Genetics, Mishima, Shizuoka 411-8540, Japan.,Comparative Genomics Laboratory, National Institute of Genetics, Mishima, Shizuoka 411-8540, Japan
| | - Asao Fujiyama
- Advanced Genomics Center, National Institute of Genetics, Mishima, Shizuoka 411-8540, Japan
| | - Sumio Sugano
- Department of Medical Genome Sciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa City, Chiba 277-0882, Japan
| | - Misako Yoneda
- Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan.,Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-8505, Japan
| | - Chieko Kai
- Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-8505, Japan
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11
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Ortiz-Leal I, Torres MV, Villamayor PR, López-Beceiro A, Sanchez-Quinteiro P. The vomeronasal organ of wild canids: the fox (Vulpes vulpes) as a model. J Anat 2020; 237:890-906. [PMID: 32584430 DOI: 10.1111/joa.13254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2020] [Revised: 05/20/2020] [Accepted: 05/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The vomeronasal system (VNS) has been extensively studied within specific animal families, such as Rodentia. However, the study of the VNS in other families, such as Canidae, has long been neglected. Among canids, the vomeronasal organ (VNO) has only been studied in detail in the dog, and no studies have examined the morphofunctional or immunohistochemical characteristics of the VNS in wild canids, which is surprising, given the well-known importance of chemical senses for the dog and fox and the likelihood that the VNS plays roles in the socio-reproductive physiology and behaviours of these species. In addition, characterising the fox VNS could contribute to a better understanding of the domestication process that occurred in the dog, as the fox would represent the first wild canid to be studied in depth. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze the morphological and immunohistochemical characteristics of the fox VNO. Tissue dissection and microdissection techniques were employed, followed by general and specific histological staining techniques, including with immunohistochemical and lectin-histochemical labelling strategies, using antibodies against olfactory marker protein (OMP), growth-associated protein 43 (GAP-43), calbindin (CB), calretinin (CR), α-tubulin, Gαo, and Gαi2 proteins, to highlight the specific features of the VNO in the fox. This study found significant differences in the VNS between the fox and the dog, particularly concerning the expression of Gαi2 and Gαo proteins, which were associated with the expression of the type 1 vomeronasal receptors (V1R) and type 2 vomeronasal receptors (V2R), respectively, in the vomeronasal epithelium. Both are immunopositive in foxes, as opposed to the dog, which only expresses Gαi2. This finding suggests that the fox possesses a well-developed VNO and supports the hypothesis that a profound transformation in the VNS is associated with domestication in the canid family. Furthermore, the unique features identified in the fox VNO confirm the necessity of studying the VNS system in different species to better comprehend specific phylogenetic aspects of the VNS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Ortiz-Leal
- Department of Anatomy, Animal Production and Clinical Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain
| | - Mateo V Torres
- Department of Anatomy, Animal Production and Clinical Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain
| | - Paula R Villamayor
- Department of Anatomy, Animal Production and Clinical Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain
| | - Ana López-Beceiro
- Department of Anatomy, Animal Production and Clinical Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain
| | - Pablo Sanchez-Quinteiro
- Department of Anatomy, Animal Production and Clinical Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain
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