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Hidden senses: What role do VNOs play in animal survival?
In many animals, the sense of smell comes not only from the nose, but also from an organ called the vomeronasal organ (VNO), which is a part of the body that some vertebrates use to sense chemical signals. VNO is very important in many reptiles and mammals, especially in predatory, mating and social behaviors. This article will explore the structure, function, and role of VNO in animal survival.
The structure and working principle of VNO
The VNO is located in the soft tissue of the palate, usually in one pair, and is surrounded by an elongated C-shaped cavity. These cavities contain sensory neurons designed to detect liquid organic substances, primarily the scent of mates, prey, and predators. When these chemicals bind to receptors in the VNO, they trigger corresponding behavioral responses.
The neurons of VNO transmit signals to the partner's olfactory bulb through "cranial nerve zero" (CN 0), and finally reach the emotional and behavioral regulation center in the brain, which makes it play a role in social behavior and reproductive behavior among animals. important role.
The wonderful connection of the olfactory system
VNO's receptors belong to G protein-coupled receptors, which include V1R, V2R and FPR. When receptors are activated by specific chemicals, complex signaling pathways are initiated and trigger physiological responses.
For example, some receptors such as V1R are mainly related to high-affinity sexual information, while V2R is more responsible for recognizing non-volatile chemical signals.
Physiological effects of VNO
In many vertebrates, the function of VNO is not limited to capturing chemical information, but also has a profound impact on behavioral responses. When VNO is stimulated, it directly affects the hypothalamus, which is an important center in regulating physiological functions such as reproduction and aggressive behavior. Through appropriate chemical signals, animals can effectively determine the presence and health status of their partners.
VNO applications for various animals
Different animals use VNO in different ways. For example, cats and some large herbivores use the "Flehmen reaction" to guide odors to the VNO. This behavior emphasizes their necessity in social and reproductive behaviors.
This biological phenomenon is not limited to mammals. Some reptiles, such as snakes, use their scarlet tongues to collect chemical information and relay it to the VNO.
The dispute between humans and VNO
In the debate over whether humans have a functional VNO, the results of various studies are inconsistent. Some studies have shown that fortunately some people can still find residual structures of VNO, but they are not functionally comparable to other animals. However, this issue remains controversial in the scientific community.
The current consensus is that most scientists are skeptical about whether adults have functional VNOs, which makes people wonder: Has our olfactory ability been transformed in the long process of evolution?
Conclusion
VNO plays a crucial role in animal survival, reproduction, and social behavior. We learned that this less visible sense delivers vitally important survival information, allowing animals to better interact with their surroundings. As research deepens, will it be possible for us to discover more unknown biological properties and reveal the potential and history of VNO?
