狼(Canis lupus signatus)的犁鼻器系统:一种野生犬科动物的独特之处。
The vomeronasal system of the wolf (Canis lupus signatus): The singularities of a wild canid.
机构信息
Department of Anatomy, Animal Production and Clinical Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain.
College of Veterinary Medicine and Veterinary Medical Research Institute, Jeju National University, Jeju, Republic of Korea.
出版信息
J Anat. 2024 Jul;245(1):109-136. doi: 10.1111/joa.14024. Epub 2024 Feb 16.
Wolves, akin to their fellow canids, extensively employ chemical signals for various aspects of communication, including territory maintenance, reproductive synchronisation and social hierarchy signalling. Pheromone-mediated chemical communication operates unconsciously among individuals, serving as an innate sensory modality that regulates both their physiology and behaviour. Despite its crucial role in the life of the wolf, there is a lacuna in comprehensive research on the neuroanatomical and physiological underpinnings of chemical communication within this species. This study investigates the vomeronasal system (VNS) of the Iberian wolf, simultaneously probing potential alterations brought about by dog domestication. Our findings demonstrate the presence of a fully functional VNS, vital for pheromone-mediated communication, in the Iberian wolf. While macroscopic similarities between the VNS of the wolf and the domestic dog are discernible, notable microscopic differences emerge. These distinctions include the presence of neuronal clusters associated with the sensory epithelium of the vomeronasal organ (VNO) and a heightened degree of differentiation of the accessory olfactory bulb (AOB). Immunohistochemical analyses reveal the expression of the two primary families of vomeronasal receptors (V1R and V2R) within the VNO. However, only the V1R family is expressed in the AOB. These findings not only yield profound insights into the VNS of the wolf but also hint at how domestication might have altered neural configurations that underpin species-specific behaviours. This understanding holds implications for the development of innovative strategies, such as the application of semiochemicals for wolf population management, aligning with contemporary conservation goals.
狼与其他犬科动物类似,广泛利用化学信号进行各种形式的交流,包括领地维护、生殖同步和社会等级信号传递。信息素介导的化学通讯在个体之间无意识地进行,作为一种调节生理和行为的先天感觉模式。尽管化学通讯在狼的生活中起着至关重要的作用,但对于该物种的神经解剖学和生理学基础的综合研究还存在空白。本研究调查了伊比利亚狼的犁鼻器系统(VNS),同时探测犬类驯化带来的潜在变化。我们的研究结果表明,伊比利亚狼具有完整的 VNS,这对于信息素介导的通讯至关重要。尽管狼和家犬的 VNS 在宏观上具有相似性,但在微观上存在明显差异。这些区别包括与犁鼻器感觉上皮相关的神经元簇的存在以及副嗅球(AOB)的高度分化。免疫组织化学分析显示,两种主要的犁鼻器受体(V1R 和 V2R)家族在犁鼻器中表达。然而,只有 V1R 家族在 AOB 中表达。这些发现不仅深入了解了狼的 VNS,还暗示了驯化如何改变了支持物种特异性行为的神经结构。这种理解对于开发创新策略具有重要意义,例如应用半化学物质进行狼群管理,以符合当代保护目标。