Background: Catadromous fishes have well developed elongate olfactory organs with numerous lamellae and different types of receptor neurons related to their breeding migration.
Aim: The current study showed how the olfactory system adapted to the catadromous life. Our work declared the need of the migratory fishes to the sense of smell that exhibited by higher number of the olfactory lamellae and the receptor neuron verification in the olfactory epithelium.
Methods: Ten specimens of fully grown, but pre-matured, silver eels of Anguilla vulgaris were captured at the outlet of Edco Lake, overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, east of Alexandria. Olfactory rosettes dissected and fixed for Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM).
Results: Our study gave a morphological description of the olfactory system of Anguilla vulgaris. At the ultrastructural level using SEM and TEM, one olfactory rosette provided with 90 to 100 flat radial olfactory lamellae. The nasal configuration allowed water to enter and exit, transferring odorant molecules to olfactory receptor cells which comprises long cylindrical ciliated and microvillous receptors as well as rod-tipped cells. These cells are bipolar neurons with upward dendritic knobs. The olfactory epithelia also include crypt receptor cells. Interestingly, the olfactory neurons are delimited by non-sensory supporting cells, including long motile kinocilia and sustentacular supporting cells beside mucus secretory goblet cells and ionocytes or labyrinth cells that contribute in the olfaction process.
Conclusion: Olfaction is crucial in all vertebrates, including fishes as it involves in reproduction, parental, feeding, defensive, schooling, and migration behaviors. Here, Anguilla vulgaris is an excellent model for catadromous fishes. It has a well-developed olfactory organ to cope with the dramatic climate change, habitat loss, water pollution, and altered ocean currents effect during their catadromous life for reproduction.
Key words: Olfactory rosette, Olfactory epithelium, Olfactory receptors, Anguilla vulgaris, Electron Microscope
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