Takami S, Hirosawa K
Department of Fine Morphology, University of Tokyo, Japan.
Jpn J Exp Med. 1987 Jun;57(3):163-74.
Light microscopic observations of the vomeronasal organ (VNO) (Jacobson's organ) of Habu, Trimeresurus flavoviridis, revealed that the organ was encased in the os vomeris and the vomeronasal cartilage on either side of the nasal septum. Habu VNO was divided into a dome-shaped portion mainly composed of a sensory epithelium (SE) and a hemispherical mushroom body covered with a ciliated epithelium. A narrow lumen, leading to the oral cavity via the vomeronasal duct, was made between the mushroom body and the SE. The SE consisted of a supporting cell layer facing the lumen and the underlying sensory cell layer where a large number of cells piled up in columns. Vascular plexuses were found around the neck and bottom of the columns. Along the antero posterior axis of the VNO, the height of the columns reached its maximum in the middle of the dorsal and the median parts (over 300 micron), and gradually decreased toward lateral. Each column contained undifferentiated basal cells, sensory cells and satellite cells. Sensory cells had a round nucleus and prominent lipofuscin granules. The sensory cells were arrayed in a string-like arrangement. Cells situated in the neck region of columns contained a larger amount of lipofuscin granules. Distal processes of sensory cells passed through the cytoplasmic meshwork of supporting cells and terminated as small swellings. Aggregates of heterogeneous cell populations were observed in the antero lateral region of the dome. A number of pigment cells were seen in the epineurium and the perivascular regions of the dorsal and lateral VNOs. Goblet cells were present in the lateral boundary between the dome portion and the mushroom body. Present findings clarify the complex organization of the Habu VNO, and the occurrence of the sensory columns similar to those reported in other snakes.
对竹叶青蛇（Trimeresurus flavoviridis）的犁鼻器（VNO，又称雅各布森氏器官）进行光学显微镜观察发现，该器官被包裹在鼻中隔两侧的犁骨和犁鼻软骨中。竹叶青蛇的犁鼻器分为一个主要由感觉上皮（SE）组成的圆顶状部分和一个覆盖着纤毛上皮的半球形蘑菇体。在蘑菇体和感觉上皮之间形成了一个狭窄的管腔，该管腔通过犁鼻管通向口腔。感觉上皮由面向管腔的支持细胞层和下方的感觉细胞层组成，大量细胞呈柱状堆积。在柱状结构的颈部和底部周围发现了血管丛。沿着犁鼻器的前后轴，柱状结构的高度在背侧和中间部分的中部达到最大值（超过300微米），并向外侧逐渐降低。每个柱状结构包含未分化的基底细胞、感觉细胞和卫星细胞。感觉细胞有一个圆形的细胞核和明显的脂褐素颗粒。感觉细胞呈串状排列。位于柱状结构颈部区域的细胞含有较多的脂褐素颗粒。感觉细胞的远端突起穿过支持细胞的细胞质网络，并以小肿胀的形式终止。在圆顶的前外侧区域观察到异质细胞群的聚集。在背侧和外侧犁鼻器的神经外膜和血管周围区域可见许多色素细胞。杯状细胞存在于圆顶部分和蘑菇体之间的外侧边界。目前的研究结果阐明了竹叶青蛇犁鼻器的复杂组织结构，以及与其他蛇类报道相似的感觉柱的存在。
