绵羊犁鼻器在繁殖中的作用

许多动物的尿液中含有重要的外激素信息,其生理意义多种多样。雌性尿液中多有表示本身性别及性状况的化学信息存在,行为学调查表明,犁鼻器的主要功能在于识别尿液气味。公羊正是依据这些化学信息识别并选择配偶的。通常公羊嗅到母羊,尤其是发情母羊尿液时,表现伸颈、抬头、卷缩上唇的特有行为型式,称之为卷唇行为或性嗅反射。这个行为是与犁鼻器的功能相联系的。它的作用在于关闭外鼻孔,堵闭会厌,使吸进的空气进入犁鼻器内,犁鼻器两侧的肌肉运动,腔内静脉窦的膨胀和收缩,又促进空气的流入和排出,如此使携带化学信息的载体不断进入犁鼻器官,成为绵羊感受化学信息的方式之一。 犁鼻器的作用可为公羊及早地、准确地选择发情的配偶提供信息;同时又能唤起公羊本身的性行为,刺激雌、雄发情及性活动的同步,对保证繁殖的成功具有一定的意义。说明绵羊犁鼻器作为化学感受器在化学通讯中特别是对繁殖行为具有重要作用。

THE ROLE OF THE VOMERONASAL ORGAN IN SHEEPREPRODUCTION

Vomeronasal organ is present in a scroll of cartilage which protects and supports it from the narrow duct to the blind end. Situated at the base of the nasal septum is a pair of long narrow sacls lined with epithelium similar to that found in the olfactory region. The incisive ducts pierce the secondary palate and the vomeronasal organs open into these ducts.The size of the organ in the females was measured a little larger than males. Vomeronasal organ of males has a streamlined appearane while female has a...