Apical protuberances of supporting cells in the regio olfactoria of the mole, Talpa europaea, Linnaeus, 1758 (Insectivora, Talpidae).

The regio olfactoria of the mole, Talpa europaea, was studied by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Peculiar structural differentiations, i.e. ovoid-shaped, balloon-like protuberances were found on the surface of the supporting cells. The apical portion of these protuberances contained finely dispersed granular material, whereas in their central part vesicular extensions of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum were observed.