title: Histological features of the vomeronasal organ in the giraffe, Giraffa camelopardalis.
abstract: The vomeronasal organ (VNO) that preferentially detects species-specific substances is diverse among animal species, and its morphological properties seem to reflect the ecological features of animals. This histological study of two female reticulated giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis reticulata) found that the VNO is developed in giraffes. The lateral and medial regions of the vomeronasal lumen were covered with sensory and nonsensory epithelia, respectively. The vomeronasal glands were positive for periodic acid-Schiff and alcian blue (pH 2.5) stains. The VNO comprises several large veins like others in the order Cetartiodactyla, suggesting that these veins function in a pumping mechanism in this order. In addition, numerous thin-walled vessels located immediately beneath the epithelia covering the lumen entirely surrounded the vomeronasal lumen. This sponge-like structure might function as a specific secondary pump in giraffes.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Veterinary Anatomy, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Nishi 2-11 Inada-cho, Obihiro, 080-8555, Japan.
authors.forename: Daisuke
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3015-5156
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kondoh
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Veterinary Anatomy, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Nishi 2-11 Inada-cho, Obihiro, 080-8555, Japan.
authors.forename: Kentaro G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Veterinary Anatomy, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Nishi 2-11 Inada-cho, Obihiro, 080-8555, Japan.
authors.forename: Yurie S
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Ono
authors.affiliation: Obihiro Zoo, Obihiro, 080-0846, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazutoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yuhara
authors.affiliation: Asahiyama Zoo, Asahikawa, 078-8205, Japan.
authors.forename: Gen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bando
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Pathology, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Nishi 2-11 Inada-cho, Obihiro, 080-8555, Japan.
authors.forename: Kenichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Pathology, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Nishi 2-11 Inada-cho, Obihiro, 080-8555, Japan.
authors.forename: Noriyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Horiuchi
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Pathology, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Nishi 2-11 Inada-cho, Obihiro, 080-8555, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshiyasu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Veterinary Anatomy, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Nishi 2-11 Inada-cho, Obihiro, 080-8555, Japan.
authors.forename: Motoki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sasaki
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Veterinary Anatomy, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Nishi 2-11 Inada-cho, Obihiro, 080-8555, Japan.
authors.forename: Nobuo
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kitamura
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D000068276:Giraffes / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D010675:Pheromones; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D019147:Vomeronasal Organ / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000098:blood supply*
chemical_list: D010675:Pheromones
keywords: cartilage; gland; olfactory system; sensory epithelium; vessels