The Harderian gland of two species of snakes: Pseudonaja textilis (Elapidae) and Thamnophis sirtalis (Colubridae)

2003 ◽  
Vol 81 (3) ◽  
pp. 357-363 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan J Rehorek ◽  
Mimi Halpern ◽  
Bruce T Firth ◽  
Mark N Hutchinson
Keyword(s):  
Gross Anatomy ◽  
Vomeronasal Organ ◽  
Harderian Gland ◽  
Interspecific Variation ◽  
Nasolacrimal Duct ◽  
Thamnophis Sirtalis ◽  
Mucous Cells ◽  
Vomeronasal System ◽  
Snake Species ◽  
Harderian Glands

The reptilian Harderian gland is a poorly understood cephalic structure. Despite the recent assertion that in snakes it may function as part of the vomeronasal system, the Harderian gland has been described in few snake species. In this study we examined the gross anatomy, histology, and ultrastructure of the Harderian gland of two different advanced snake species (Colubroidea): Pseudonaja textilis (Elapidae) and Thamnophis sirtalis (Colubridae). In both species the Harderian gland is a large serous gland whose secretions pass directly into the vomeronasal organ via the nasolacrimal duct. Contrary to previous publications, the Harderian gland in both species studied possesses a specific duct system lined by mucous cells. However, the Harderian glands of these two species differ in shape, the histochemical nature of these mucous secretions, and the ultrastructure of the serous granules. In conclusion, though the Harderian glands of snakes are remarkably conserved morphologically, there is some interspecific variation.

Passage of Harderian gland secretions to the vomeronasal organ of Thamnophis sirtalis (Serpentes: Colubridae)

2000 ◽  
Vol 78 (7) ◽  
pp. 1284-1288 ◽  
Author(s):  
S J Rehorek ◽  
W J Hillenius ◽  
W Quan ◽  
M Halpern
Keyword(s):  
Vomeronasal Organ ◽  
Harderian Gland ◽  
Nasolacrimal Duct ◽  
Sensory Epithelium ◽  
Thamnophis Sirtalis ◽  
Vomeronasal System ◽  
Treatment Groups ◽  
Terrestrial Vertebrates ◽  
Rich Solution ◽  
The Right

The Harderian gland is a poorly understood structure found in the anterior orbit of most terrestrial vertebrates. In colubrid snakes it is a seromucous gland with a large postorbital portion. Numerous functions have been ascribed to this gland, including contributions to orbital lubrication or the vomeronasal system. Anatomically the Harderian gland is connected to the vomeronasal organ (VNO) via the nasolacrimal duct. In this study we traced the serous secretions of the Harderian gland of two subspecies of Thamnophis sirtalis (Colubridae), using autoradiographic techniques at the light-microscopic level. We injected the Harderian gland of the snakes with H3-proline either unilaterally (right side) or bilaterally. The right Harderian glands of both treatment groups were then injected with a potassium-rich solution. No labeling was observed in the orbital space of any treatment group, suggesting that the Harderian gland secretions of T. sirtalis do not function in orbital lubrication. Labeling was only observed in the right Harderian gland, Harderian gland ducts, nasolacrimal duct, apical vomeronasal sensory epithelium, VNO lumen, and vomeronasal duct. No such labeling was observed in any of the other treatments examined. Thus, the serous secretions of the Harderian gland in snakes flow to the VNO, and may be considered part of the vomeronasal system. The specific function of the Harderian gland secretions in the vomeronasal system remains to be determined.

Can an orbital gland function in the vomeronasal sense? A study of the pygopodid Harderian gland

2000 ◽  
Vol 78 (4) ◽  
pp. 648-654 ◽  
Author(s):  
S J Rehorek ◽  
B T Firth ◽  
M N Hutchinson
Keyword(s):  
Vomeronasal Organ ◽  
Harderian Gland ◽  
Nasolacrimal Duct ◽  
Morphological Features ◽  
Direct Link ◽  
Growing Body ◽  
Gland Function

The Harderian gland occurs in the orbit of most tetrapod vertebrates. A growing body of evidence suggests that this gland is associated with the chemoreceptive function of the vomeronasal organ. In the present study, the morphology of the Harderian gland in two species of pygopodids was examined, and the results were contrasted with those from both geckos and snakes. The results show that the pygopodid Harderian gland shares histochemical and ultrastructural features with that of the geckos. However, in several gross morphological features, the pygopodid Harderian gland more closely resemble that of snakes than that of geckos. In both pygopodids and snakes, the nasolacrimal duct forms a direct link between the Harderian gland and the vomeronasal organ, which indicates that this specialized connection between the Harderian gland and vomeronasal organ is a convergent evolutionary attribute of these two groups.

Passage of Harderian gland secretions to the vomeronasal organ of Thamnophis sirtalis (Serpentes: Colubridae)

2000 ◽  
Vol 78 (7) ◽  
pp. 1284-1288 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.J. Rehorek ◽  
W.J. Hillenius ◽  
W. Quan ◽  
M. Halpern
Keyword(s):  
Vomeronasal Organ ◽  
Harderian Gland ◽  
Thamnophis Sirtalis

scholarly journals Pathogenesis of Sialodacryoadenitis in Gnotobiotic Rats

1975 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 196-209 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. O. Jacoby ◽  
P. N. Bhatt ◽  
A. M. Jonas
Keyword(s):  
Salivary Glands ◽  
Virus Replication ◽  
Squamous Metaplasia ◽  
Harderian Gland ◽  
Tracheobronchial Tree ◽  
Hematogenous Spread ◽  
Cervical Lymph Nodes ◽  
Harderian Glands ◽  
Massive Necrosis ◽  
Acute Rhinitis

The pathogenesis of sialodacryoadenitis was studied in gnotobiotic CD rats inoculated intranasally with the causal virus. Virus replication was detected sequentially in the nasopharynx, tracheobronchial tree, cervical lymph nodes, submaxillary and parotid salivary glands, exorbital gland, and Harderian gland. Acute rhinitis appeared within 2 days after inoculation, and salivary glands had lesions in 4 days. Early changes in salivary and exorbital glands were characterized by necrosis of ductal epithelium, which rapidly progressed to widespread acinar necrosis, marked inflammation, edema and total effacement of glandular architecture. Harderian glands also had massive necrosis of tubuloalveolar units. Repair in all glands was characterized by marked squamous metaplasia of ducts. Neutralizing and complement-fixing antibodies were detected in 7 days, and there was a concomitant decrease in tissue-virus titers. There was no detectable evidence for hematogenous spread of virus or for retrograde infection by way of major salivary ducts.

scholarly journals Sensitivity and transduction mechanisms of responses to general odorants in turtle vomeronasal system.

1991 ◽  
Vol 98 (5) ◽  
pp. 909-919 ◽  
Author(s):  
T Shoji ◽  
K Kurihara
Keyword(s):  
Vomeronasal Organ ◽  
Na Channel ◽  
Channel Blockers ◽  
Ca Channel ◽  
Essential Difference ◽  
Free Solution ◽  
Vomeronasal System ◽  
Nacl Solution ◽  
Response Curves ◽  
Transduction Mechanisms

(a) The responses of the vomeronasal organ to general odorants in the turtle, Geoclemys reevesii, were measured by recording the accessory olfactory bulbar responses. The threshold concentrations of the vomeronasal responses to various odorants were similar to those in main olfactory bulbar responses, indicating that vomeronasal cells lacking cilia and olfactory cells having many cilia have similar sensitivities to general odorants. (b) The vomeronasal epithelium was perfused with 100 mM NaCl solution and the salt-free solution and the effects of NaCl on the vomeronasal responses to various odorants were examined. There was no essential difference between the concentration-response curves for n-amyl acetate and menthone dissolved in 100 mM NaCl solution and those dissolved in the salt-free solution in the whole concentration range examined. The ratios of the magnitudes of vomeronasal responses in the salt-free solution to those in 100 mM NaCl solution were between 1.01 and 1.10 for seven odorants tested. (c) The magnitudes of responses to the odorants were unchanged by changes in NaCl concentrations. The replacement of Na+ with organic cations such as choline+, Bis-Tris propane2+, and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine+ did not affect the magnitudes of the responses to the odorants. The Na channel blocker amiloride also did not affect the responses. (d) The vomeronasal responses were practically unchanged by changes in CaCl2 concentration. The Ca channel blockers diltiazem and verapamil did not affect the responses. (e) The replacement of Cl- with SO4(2-) did not affect the magnitudes of the vomeronasal responses. (f) The present results suggest that ion transport across the apical membranes of vomeronasal receptor cells does not contribute to the responses to odorants in the turtle.

scholarly journals Staying warm is not always the norm: Behavioural differences in thermoregulation of two snake species

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danilo Giacometti ◽  
Katharine Yagi ◽  
Curtis R Abney ◽  
Matthew P Jung ◽  
Glenn Jeffery Tattersall
Keyword(s):  
Life Histories ◽  
Laboratory Data ◽  
Integrative Approach ◽  
Thamnophis Sirtalis ◽  
Temperature Sensitive ◽  
Thermal Biology ◽  
Snake Species ◽  
Active Nature ◽  
Thermal Preferences ◽  
Insight Into

Thermal biology research compares field with laboratory data to elucidate the evolution of temperature-sensitive traits in ectotherms. The hidden challenge of many of these studies is discerning whether animals actively thermoregulate, since motivation is not typically assessed. By studying behaviours involved in thermoregulation, we can better understand the mechanisms behind body temperature control. Using an integrative approach, we assess thermoregulatory and thermotactic behaviours of two sympatric snake species with contrasting life histories, the generalist Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis (Linnaeus, 1758) and the semi-fossorial Storeria occipitomaculata occipitomaculata (Storer, 1839). We expected that thermoregulatory behaviours would be optimised based on life history, in that T. s. sirtalis would show higher evidence for thermally-oriented behaviours than S. o. occipitomaculata due to its active nature. Thamnophis s. sirtalis actively thermoregulated, had higher thermal preferences (29.4 ± 2.5 vs. 25.3 ± 3.6°C), and was more active than S. o. occipitomaculata, which showed relatively low evidence for thermotaxis. Our results build on the notion that evaluating movement patterns and rostral orientation towards a heat-source can help ascertain whether animals make thermally-motivated choices. Our data give insight into the thermoregulatory strategies used by snakes with different life histories, and maximise the information provided by behavioural thermoregulation experiments.

Breathing and upper airway CO2 in reptiles: role of the nasal and vomeronasal systems

1989 ◽  
Vol 256 (1) ◽  
pp. R91-R97
Author(s):  
E. L. Coates ◽  
G. O. Ballam
Keyword(s):  
Ventilatory Response ◽  
Minute Ventilation ◽  
Upper Airway ◽  
Olfactory Nerve ◽  
Pause Duration ◽  
Thamnophis Sirtalis ◽  
Nerve Transection ◽  
Vomeronasal System ◽  
Upper Airways ◽  
Before And After

The ventilatory response of the garter snake, Thamnophis sirtalis, to 2% CO2 delivered to the upper airways (UA) was measured before and after the olfactory or vomeronasal nerves were transected. The UA (nasal cavities and mouth) were isolated from the gas source inspired into the lungs by inserting an endotracheal T tube into the glottis. CO2 was administered to the UA via a head chamber. The primary ventilatory response to UA CO2 was a significant decrease in ventilatory frequency (f) and minute ventilation. The decrease in f was caused by a significant increase in the pause duration. Tidal volume, expiratory duration, and inspiratory duration were not altered with UA CO2. The f response to UA CO2 was abolished with olfactory nerve transection, whereas vomeronasal nerve transection significantly increased the magnitude of the f depression. These results indicate that CO2-sensitive receptors are located in the nasal epithelium and that the olfactory nerves must be intact for the UA CO2 f response to be observed. In addition, the vomeronasal system appears to modulate the ventilatory response to UA CO2.

scholarly journals Presence of the vomeronasal system in aquatic salamanders

2000 ◽  
Vol 355 (1401) ◽  
pp. 1209-1213 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heather L. Eisthen
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Common Ancestor ◽  
Vomeronasal Organ ◽  
Last Common Ancestor ◽  
Vomeronasal System ◽  
Necturus Maculosus ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
Terrestrial Life ◽  
Olfactory Systems ◽  
Aquatic Salamanders

Previous reports have indicated that members of the proteid family of salamanders lack a vomeronasal system, and this absence has been interpreted as representing the ancestral condition for aquatic amphibians. I examined the anatomy of the nasal cavities, nasal epithelia, and forebrains of members of the proteid family, mudpuppies ( Necturus maculosus ), as well as members of the amphiumid and sirenid families ( Amphiuma tridactylum and Siren intermedia ). Using a combination of light and transmission electron microscopy, I found no evidence that mudpuppies possess a vomeronasal system, but found that amphiuma and sirens possess both vomeronasal and olfactory systems. Amphiumids and sirenids are considered to be outgroups relative to proteids; therefore, these data indicate that the vomeronasal system is generally present in salamanders and has been lost in mudpuppies. Given that the vomeronasal system is generally present in aquatic amphibians, and that the last common ancestor of amphibians and amniotes is believed to have been fully aquatic, I conclude that the vomeronasal system arose in aquatic tetrapods and did not originate as an adaptation to terrestrial life. This conclusion has important implications for the hypothesis that the vomeronasal organ is specialized for detection of non–volatile compounds.

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