Research projects

The recessus olfactorius (RO) is a small pouch observed in the antero-lateral olfactory epithelium of anuran amphibians. In Japanese toads the central projection from the epithelium lining RO (ROE) was observed by using fluorescent carbocyanine dye, and it revealed that the neuronal fibers from the ROE did not project to the main olfactory bulb (MOB) but to the accessory olfactory bulb (AOB). The projections from the ROE were found in the anterior region of the AOB and also in the anterior half of the posterior region. In electron microscopy the tissue collected from the ROE was compared with those from the vomeronasal epithelium (VNE) and the olfactory epithelium (OE). The ROE and the VNE contained both ciliated cells and microvillous cells. The odor response of ROE was measured by using voltage sensitive dye (di-8ANEPPS). The ROE showed responses to airborne and waterborne odorants, such as cineole and amino acids.