RT Journal Article
T1 The vomeronasal system of the wolf (Canis lupus signatus): The singularities of a wild canid
A1 Ortiz Leal, Irene
A1 Vázquez Torres, Mateo
A1 Barreiro Vázquez, José Daniel
A1 López Beceiro, Ana María
A1 Fidalgo Álvarez, Luis Eusebio
A1 Shin, Taekyun
A1 Sánchez Quinteiro, Pablo
K1 Accessory olfactory bulb
K1 Chemical communication
K1 Immunohistochemistry
K1 Lectins
K1 Pheromones
K1 Vomeronasal organ
K1 Vomeronasal system
K1 Wolf
AB Wolves, akin to their fellow canids, extensively employ chemical signals for various aspects of communication, including territory maintenance, reproductive synchronisation and social hierarchy signalling. Pheromone-mediated chemical communication operates unconsciously among individuals, serving as an innate sensory modality that regulates both their physiology and behaviour. Despite its crucial role in the life of the wolf, there is a lacuna in comprehensive research on the neuroanatomical and physiological underpinnings of chemical communication within this species. This study investigates the vomeronasal system (VNS) of the Iberian wolf, simultaneously probing potential alterations brought about by dog domestication. Our findings demonstrate the presence of a fully functional VNS, vital for pheromone-mediated communication, in the Iberian wolf. While macroscopic similarities between the VNS of the wolf and the domestic dog are discernible, notable microscopic differences emerge. These distinctions include the presence of neuronal clusters associated with the sensory epithelium of the vomeronasal organ (VNO) and a heightened degree of differentiation of the accessory olfactory bulb (AOB). Immunohistochemical analyses reveal the expression of the two primary families of vomeronasal receptors (V1R and V2R) within the VNO. However, only the V1R family is expressed in the AOB. These findings not only yield profound insights into the VNS of the wolf but also hint at how domestication might have altered neural configurations that underpin species-specific behaviours. This understanding holds implications for the development of innovative strategies, such as the application of semiochemicals for wolf population management, aligning with contemporary conservation goals
PB Wiley
SN 0021-8782
YR 2024
FD 2024
LK http://hdl.handle.net/10347/33802
UL http://hdl.handle.net/10347/33802
LA eng
NO Ortiz-Leal, I., Torres, M.V., Barreiro-Vázquez, J.-D., López-Beceiro, A., Fidalgo, L., Shin, T. et al. (2024) The vomeronasal system of the wolf (Canis lupus signatus): The singularities of a wild canid. Journal of Anatomy, 00, 1–28. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1111/joa.14024
NO Consello Social from the University of Santiago de Compostela. Grant Number: 2022-PU004
DS Minerva
RD 28 abr 2026