title: The human vomeronasal organ: prenatal developmental stages and distribution of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to describe in 49 normal human prenatal specimens, 15-156 mm crown-rump length (CRL), the histomorphological development of the bilateral vomeronasal organ localized in the mucosa of the nasal septum. In addition, immunohistochemical localization of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) was undertaken. The material was classified into five developmental stages (NAS I/V), based on the morphology of the nasal cavity. The vomeronasal organ was visible in stages NAS II, III and IV, corresponding to 21-102 mm CRL. Positive immunohistochemical reaction for LHRH neurons was pronounced in the vomeronasal organ in NAS II and III, corresponding approximately to fetal ages 8-12 gestational weeks (21-51 mm CRL). The study demonstrates in normal human prenatal material that LHRH can be recorded in the bilateral vomeronasal organs during approximately 4 weeks of intrauterine life.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark. ik@odont.ku.dk
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kjaer
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fischer Hansen
mesh_terms: D018568:Crown-Rump Length; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development; D005865:Gestational Age; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D017436:Kallmann Syndrome / Q000196:embryology; D009300:Nasal Septum / Q000196:embryology* / Q000294:innervation; D009833:Olfactory Pathways / Q000196:embryology*
chemical_list: D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone