RT Journal Article
T1 Immunohistological study of the unexplored vomeronasal organ of an endangered mammal, the dama gazelle (Nanger dama)
A1 Vázquez Torres, Mateo
A1 Ortiz‐Leal, Irene
A1 Ferreiro, Andrea
A1 Rois, José Luis
A1 Sánchez Quinteiro, Pablo
K1 Chemocommunication
K1 G-proteins
K1 Immunohistochemistry
K1 Lectins
K1 Vomeronasal
AB Dama gazelle is a threatened and rarely studied species found primarily in northern Africa. Human pressure has depleted the dama gazelle population from tens of thousands to a few hundred individuals. Since 1970, a founder population consisting of the last 17 surviving individuals in Western Sahara has been maintained in captivity, reproducing naturally. In preparation for the future implementation of assisted reproductive technology, certain aspects of dama gazelle reproductive biology have been established. However, the role played by semiochemical-mediated communications in the sexual behavior of dama gazelle remains unknown due partially to a lack of a neuroanatomical or morphofunctional characterization of the dama gazelle vomeronasal organ (VNO), which is the sensory organ responsible for pheromone processing. The present study characterized the dama gazelle VNO, which appears fully equipped to perform neurosensory functions, contributing to current understanding of interspecies VNO variability among ruminants. By employing histological, lectin-histochemical, and immunohistochemical techniques, we conducted a detailed morphofunctional evaluation of the dama gazelle VNO along its entire longitudinal axis. Our findings of significant structural and neurochemical transformation along the entire VNO suggest that future studies of the VNO should take a similar approach. The present study contributes to current understanding of dama gazelle VNO, providing a basis for future studies of semiochemical-mediated communications and reproductive management in this species
PB Wiley
SN 1059-910X
YR 2023
FD 2023-07-26
LK http://hdl.handle.net/10347/31257
UL http://hdl.handle.net/10347/31257
LA eng
NO Microscopy Research and Technique, 86(9), 1206–1233
NO This work was partially supported by a grant from “Consello Social Universidade de Santiago de Compostela” 2022-PU004
DS Minerva
RD 26 abr 2026