The Accessory Olfactory Bulb in <i>Arvicola scherman</i>: A Neuroanatomical Study in a Subterranean Mammal
Sara Ruiz-Rubio | Irene Ortiz-Leal | Mateo V. Torres | Mostafa G. A. Elsayed | Aitor Somoano | Pablo Sanchez-Quinteiro
The accessory olfactory bulb (AOB) processes chemical signals crucial for species-specific socio-sexual behaviors. There is limited information about the AOB of wild rodents, and this study aims to characterize the neurochemical organization of the AOB in the fossorial water vole (<i>Arvicola scherman</i>), a subterranean Cricetidae rodent. We employed histological, immunohistochemical, and lectin-histochemical techniques. The AOB of these voles exhibits a distinct laminar organization, with prominent mitral cells and a dense population of periglomerular cells. Lectin histochemistry and G-protein immunohistochemistry confirmed the existence of an antero-posterior zonation. Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated significant expression of PGP 9.5, suggesting its involvement in maintaining neuronal activity within the AOB. In contrast, the absence of SMI-32 labelling in the AOB, compared to its strong expression in the main olfactory bulb, highlights functional distinctions between these two olfactory subsystems. Calcium-binding proteins allowed the characterization of atypical sub-bulbar nuclei topographically related to the AOB. All these features suggest that the AOB of <i>Arvicola scherman</i> is adapted for enhanced processing of chemosensory signals, which may play a pivotal role in its subterranean lifestyle. Our results provide a foundation for future studies exploring the implications of these adaptations, including potential improvements in the management of these vole populations.
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