The vomeronasal organ in Angora goats (Capra hircus)

The aim of this study is to determine the morphology of the vomeronasal organ in Angora goats (Capra hircus). The heads of eight adult Angora goats (Capra hircus) obtained from the slaughterhouse were used as materials. Six heads with vomeronasal organ were examined by macro and micro dissections, the others were removed from the longitudinal ridge of mucosa in the ventral portion of the nasal septum for routine histological examinations. Vomeronasal organ was extended on either side of the nasal septum from the level of incisive papilla to the third upper premolar tooth. It consisted of bilateral vomeronasal duct and vomeronasal cartilage on the floor of the nasal cavity. The mean vomeronasal cartilage length and diameter at the centre were 6.5 cm and 3.5 mm, respectively. The respiratoric epithelium was observed along all the epithelium of vomeronasal duct except a small area ventromedially where the olfactoric epithelium was present. The lateral wall of vomeronasal duct was covered with pseudostratified columnar epithelium, and its medial wall was lined with olfactory epithelium comprising the supporting, olfactory and basal cells. It was concluded that the morphology of vomeronasal organ was variable among in both race and/or species, and that the results from this study are to throw light on future studies on vomeronasal organ.