Abstract

The vomeronasal system is a major direct source of exteroceptive information to the limbic system. In the past ten years the functional significance of the vomeronasal system as a system separate from the olfactory system has been established. In snakes the vomeronasal system is consistently well developed and structurally more prominent than the main olfactory system. In addition, snakes use their vomeronasal systems in a variety of situations including detection of prey odors and detection of conspecific chemical signals used in courtship, aggregation and habitat selection. Current research emphasis is directed at understanding the interrelationship between the olfactory and vomeronasal systems using behavioral and electro-physiological approaches, and determining the chemical basis of differential stimulation of the vomeronasal and olfactory systems. A better understanding of the roles of the chemical senses in species typical behaviors should result in establishment of some principles of limbic system functioning.

  Funding Agency

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01NS011713-12
Application #
3394571
Study Section
Biopsychology Study Section (BPO)
Project Start
1977-09-01
Project End
1986-08-31
Budget Start
1985-09-01
Budget End
1986-08-31
Support Year
12
Fiscal Year
1985
Total Cost
Indirect Cost

  Institution

Name
Suny Downstate Medical Center
Department
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
068552207
City
Brooklyn
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
11203

  Publications

Holtzman, D A (1993) The ontogeny of nasal chemical senses in garter snakes. Brain Behav Evol 41:163-70
Holtzman, D A; Gordon, E; Halpern, M (1993) Developmental changes in cytochrome oxidase histochemistry in the main and accessory olfactory bulbs of embryonic and neonatal garter snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis spp.). J Morphol 218:323-32
Holtzman, D A; Halpern, M (1991) Incorporation of 3H-thymidine in the embryonic vomeronasal and olfactory epithelial of garter snakes. J Comp Neurol 304:435-49
Graves, B M; Halpern, M; Friesen, J L (1991) Snake aggregation pheromones: source and chemosensory mediation in western ribbon snakes (Thamnophis proximus). J Comp Psychol 105:140-4
Holtzman, D A; Halpern, M (1991) Incorporation of 3H-thymidine in telencephalic structures of the vomeronasal and olfactory systems of embryonic garter snakes. J Comp Neurol 304:450-66
Holtzman, D A; Halpern, M (1990) Embryonic and neonatal development of the vomeronasal and olfactory systems in garter snakes (Thamnophis spp.). J Morphol 203:123-40
Jiang, X C; Inouchi, J; Wang, D et al. (1990) Purification and characterization of a chemoattractant from electric shock-induced earthworm secretion, its receptor binding, and signal transduction through the vomeronasal system of garter snakes. J Biol Chem 265:8736-44
Jiang, X C; Wang, D; Halpern, M (1989) Isolation and characterization of alarm pheromone from electric shock-induced earthworm secretion. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 34:213-21
Graves, B M; Halpern, M (1989) Chemical access to the vomeronasal organs of the lizard Chalcides ocellatus. J Exp Zool 249:150-7
Holtzman, D A; Halpern, M (1989) In vitro technique for studying garter snake (Thamnophis sp.) development. J Exp Zool 250:283-8

Showing the most recent 10 out of 17 publications