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Ultrastructural characterisation of the olfactory mucosa of the armadillo Dasypus hybridus (Dasypodidae, Xenarthra)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 2000

C. C. FERRARI
Affiliation:
Instituto de Neurociencia (INEUCI-CONICET), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
P. D. CARMANCHAHI
Affiliation:
Instituto de Neurociencia (INEUCI-CONICET), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
H. J. ALDANA MARCOS
Affiliation:
Instituto de Neurociencia (INEUCI-CONICET), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Morón, Argentina
J. M. AFFANNI
Affiliation:
Instituto de Neurociencia (INEUCI-CONICET), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Morón, Argentina
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Abstract

The ultrastructure of the olfactory mucosa of the armadillo Dasypus hybridus was studied. A comparison with the olfactory mucosa of another armadillo (Chaetophractus villosus) was made. The olfactory mucosa of D. hybridus shows many features which are similar to those of other mammals. Interestingly, it differs from the olfactory mucosa of the armadillo C. villosus. A suggestion is made that these differences may be due to differences in the digging habits of these species. In Dasypus, the supporting cells (SCs) showed dense vacuoles, multivesicular bodies and lysosome-like bodies probably related with the endocytotic system. The SCs show a dense network of SER presumably associated with xenobiotic mechanisms. The olfactory receptor neurons exhibit lysosome-like bodies and multivesicular bodies in their perikarya. These organelles suggest the presence of an endocytotic system. Duct cells of Bowman's glands exhibit secretory activities. Bowman's glands are compound-branched tubulo-acinar mixed glands with merocrine secretory mechanisms.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© Anatomical Society of Great Britain and Ireland 2000

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