The ultrastructural organization of olfactory epithelium of two species of gadoid fish

• Published in: Journal of Fish Biology
• Main Authors: Lowe, G. A., MacLeod, N. K.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 1975
• Subjects: Gadus morhua
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8649.1975.tb04628.x; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fj.1095-8649.1975.tb04628.x; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1095-8649.1975.tb04628.x

The untrastructural organization of the olfactory epithelium of the cod Gadus morhua (L.) and the haddock Melanogrammus aeglefinus (L.) was studied using both transmission and scanning electron microscopy. The olfactory rosette was found to exhibit regional differences; the faces of the olfactory lamella were composed of sensory epithelium, the edges were non‐sensory. The cellular organization of the olfactory epithelium was determined and consisted of bi‐polar sensory neurones, supporting cells, mucous cells and basal cells. The ultrastructure of the sensory cells was consistent, having an elongate cell, the free surface of which terminated in an olfactory vesicle from which arose either four olfactory cilia or numerous microvilli. Ciliary aggregations have been found in the two species of gadoid fish studied; it is suggested that these structures aid in the separation and in the circulation of fluid between the lamellae. The surface structure of the supporting cells was found to be of two types: either ciliated or ridged; the former presenting distinct ciliated tufts, the latter showing definite, but unorganized, ridges over the epithelium surface.