Frequency and localization of the putative vomeronasal organ in humans in relation to age and gender.
OBJECTIVE
In many species the vomeronasal organ (VNO) serves as a chemosensory organ in addition to the olfactory system. The present investigation was undertaken to study 1) the frequency of monolateral or bilateral detection of the putative VNO (pVNO) in humans, 2) its localization in humans, and 3) whether detectability of the pVNO varies with age or gender.


METHODS
Prospective.


METHODS
A total of 173 subjects participated in this study (88 women and 85 men; age range, 2-91 y). Inspection of the nose was performed with a speculum and a 30 degrees endoscope. The exact localization of the VNO was measured with custom-built rulers.


RESULTS
The study revealed the following major results: 1) A pVNO is detectable in approximately two-thirds of the population and bilateral pVNOs are present in approximately 40% of investigated subjects, 2) its localization on the left and right nasal septum is almost symmetrical, and 3) and detectability of the pVNO is not related to age or gender.


CONCLUSIONS
The present data indicated that the pVNO is present in approximately two-thirds of the population. This value may be biased by methodological or biological factors; nevertheless, it indicates that the pVNO is not observed in all humans regardless of age and gender. Thus, considering its variability in shape and immunohistochemical characteristics and the missing nerval connections between the peripheral "organ" and the central nervous system, the present results are not suited to argue for a functional significance of the pVNO in humans.
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Dresden Medical School, Fetscherstr. 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany.
M
M
Knecht
D
D
Kühnau
K B
KB
Hüttenbrink
M
M
Witt
T
T
Hummel
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004724:Endoscopy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values; D012737:Sex Factors; D019147:Vomeronasal Organ / Q000033:anatomy & histology*