Morphological studies on the vomeronasal organ of Korean native cattle and Korean native goats

한우 및 재래산양 서비기관의 형태학적 연구

Morphological features of the vomeronasal organ of both Korean native cattle and Korean native goat were studied by gross, microscopic and histochemical examinations. Anatomical characteristics of the vomeronasl organ were similar in both Korean native cattle and Korean native goats. The vomeronasal organ is a tubular structure situated bilaterally at the base of the nasal septum, and enclosed by hyaline cartilage. Its lumen is semilunar to crescent in transverse sections. It join with the incisive duct through narrow duct. The lumen of the vomeronasal organ is lined with sensory and respiratory epithelia. The distribution pattern of vomeronasal mucosal epithelia varied by the position. In the anterior portion joining with nasal cavity, the lumen is lined with only respiratory epitheliu. In the middle portion, sensory epithelium appeared on the medial side, and respiratory epithelium on the lateral side. In the posterior, it is lined with sensory epithelium on the ventral side and lined with respiratory epithelium on the dorsal side. The vomeronasal gland composed of mucous and serous acini are distributed in the lamina propria under the respiratory epithelium, where venous sinuses are also well developed.