Fine structure and function of the recessus olfactorius, a sensory epithelium of the accessory olfactory system, in the toad (Bufo japonicus)

嗅觉隐窝（RO）是在无尾两栖动物的前外侧嗅觉上皮中观察到的一个小袋。用荧光碳菁染料观察了日本蟾蜍上皮内层RO （ROE）的中心投射，结果表明，来自ROE的神经元纤维不是投射到主嗅球（MOB），而是投射到副嗅球（AOB）。在AOB的前区和后区前半部分也发现了ROE的突出。电镜下将ROE组织与VNE上皮和OE上皮组织进行比较。ROE和VNE均含有纤毛细胞和微绒毛细胞。采用电压敏感染料（di-8ANEPPS）测定ROE的气味响应。ROE对空气和水中的气味剂，如桉树脑和氨基酸有反应。

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.