Fig. 1. Visualization of the vomeronasal neural epithelium (VNE) of the musk turtle Sternotherus odoratus. (A) Coronal cryosection (10 µm thick) of the vomeronasal organ labeled with rhodamine-conjugated dextran to visualize the vomeronasal (VN) sensory neurons. Dextran was introduced into the left vomeronasal organ orifice and permitted to migrate for approximately 2 weeks. Note the absence of labeling on the contralateral VNE. Scale bar, 80 µm. (B) Higher magnification of the section shown in A. The dendrites of the microvillar layer (M) and more basally positioned somata (S) are visible. Scale bar, 40 µm. (C) Cryosection (10 µm thick) of the dextran labeling contained in axon terminals of the VN neurons at the level of the glomeruli of the accessory olfactory bulb. Scale bar, 40 µm. (D) The same type of section and orientation as in B counterstained with Masson’s Trichrome. Scale bar, 40 µm. (E,F) Isolated VN neurons from a female (E) and a male (F) turtle. Scale bars, 10 µm. Ca, cartilage; S, somata; M, microvilli; Ax, axon; De, dendrite.
