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Anatomical variation in the olfactory apparatus of marine teleosts
Keywords:
Olfactory, Rosette, Scombridae, Carangidae, Platycephalidae, etc.
ABSTRACT:


The olfactory apparatus of marine teleosts viz., Rastrelliger kanagurta,
Scomberoides commersonianus and Platycephalus scaber belonging to the family
of Scombridae, Carangidae and Platycephalidae respectively has been fixed in
10% formaldehyde solution for 24 h and anatomically examined under light
microscope (LM). Anatomical variation regarding the nostrils, olfactory rosette,
occurrence of accessory nasal sacs, olfactory lobes, length of the olfactory nerve
tracts, etc. are observed. These morphological variations may denote species specific
and may decisive for several biological functions.
742-748 | JRB | 2013 | Vol 3 | No 1

This Open Access article is governed by the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://
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www.jresearchbiology.com
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Research Journal
Authors:
Biswas S
1
, Datta NC
2
,
Sarkar SK
1
and De SK
1
.

Institution:
1. Department of Zoology,
Vidyasagar University,
Midnapore (West) - 721102,
West Bengal, India.

2. 110/20 B. T. Road,
Kolkata - 700108, West
Bengal, India.

Corresponding author:
Subrata Kumar De.

Email:
skdvu@yahoo.co.in















Phone No:
+91 03222 275329



Web Address:
http://www.jresearchbiology.com/
documents/RA0304pdf.
Dates:
Received: 08 Nov 2012 Accepted: 20 Nov 2012 Published: 09 Jan 2013
Article Citation:
Biswas S, Datta NC, Sarkar SK and De SK.
Anatomical variation in the olfactory apparatus of marine teleosts.
Journal of Research in Biology (2013) 3(1): 742-748
Journal of Research in Biology
An International Open Access Research Journal
Original Research


INTRODUCTION
Olfaction is an important type of chemoreception
which is mediated through well developed, complex and
organized olfactory system in vertebrates (Freitag et al.,
1999). This system generally develops from the
specialized tissue, called olfactory placode (von Kupffer,
1894). In the early stage of development, placodes are
formed from the preplacodal ectoderm of the anterior
region of the embryo, medial to epidermis and lateral to
both neural crest and neural plate (Knouff, 1935).
The developmental process leading to the formation of
fish olfactory organ, is little diverse (Hansen and
Zielinski, 2005). The peripheral olfactory organ is the
first chemosensory organ to develop in fish preceding the
systems of solitary chemosensory cells (Kotrschal et al.,
1997) and taste (Hansen et al., 2003). Fish generally
possesses a paired olfactory organ located at the anterior
part of the head (Derivot, 1984; Hansen and Zeiske,
1998; Dving, 2003; De and Sarkar, 2009). The olfactory
chambers, olfactory rosette, accessory nasal sacs,
olfactory bulbs, olfactory nerve tracts and brain are the
major components of fish olfactory apparatus
(Hamdani and Dving, 2007). The anatomy of the
olfactory apparatus shows wide range of structural
diversity regarding the shape and size of the olfactory
rosette, number of the olfactory lamellae, occurrence of
accessory nasal sacs, etc. among the teleostean groups
(Kleerekoper, 1969). The anatomical details of the
olfactory apparatus in several species belonging to the
diverse teleostean taxa with respect to their habitat are
still an obscure part in sensory biology. The sensory
systems of fishes show notable adaptations according to
habitat and mode of life in comparison with the higher
vertebrates (Bone and Moore, 2008). The present study
focused on the true anatomy of the olfactory apparatus in
three species of different ecological habitat viz.,
Rastrelliger kanagurta (Cuvier, 1816), a marine
oceanodromous fish; Scomberoides commersonianus
(Lacepede, 1801), a brackish water amphidromous fish
and Platycephalus scaber (Linnaeus, 1758), an estuarine
amphidromous fish to unfold their structural components
and functional significance in olfaction.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
Adult, sex-independent specimens of
R. kanagurta, S. commersonianus and P. scaber were
collected from the coastal regions of Bengal, India.
Specimens were preserved in 10% formaldehyde
solution for 24 h and brought to the laboratory. The
olfactory apparatus of these species were dissected out
and separately mount on grease free slide by using
glycerine. The olfactory apparatus of respective species
was examined under light microscope (LM).

RESULTS
R. kanagurta (Figure 1A) possesses two pairs of
nostril viz., anterior nostril and posterior nostril
(Figure 1B). The anterior nostril is an oval shaped
structure, encircled by a thick lip like ridge of skin and
located at the dorsal region of the snout where as the
posterior nostril is situated in front of the eye.
R. kanagurta shows a slit like structure i.e., posterior
nostril which is located at a moderate distance from the
anterior one (Figure 1B). The olfactory apparatus of the
said species is present at the antero-dorsal side of the
snout in between the anterior and posterior nostril
(Figure 1C). The multilamellar olfactory rosette is oval
in shape and is situated at the floor of the olfactory
chamber (Figures 1D and 1E). The triangular olfactory
lamellae vary from 60 to 70 in number per rosette and
are arranged pinnately on the raphe (Figure 1E). The
accessory nasal sacs are clearly marked in the olfactory
apparatus of R. kanagurta. The lacrimal sac is conical in
shape and located at the antero-medial region of
lachrymal bone in association with olfactory rosette
(Figures 1C and 1D). The ethmoidal sac is connected at
the posterior part of the olfactory rosette and situated
within a groove at the antero-lateral extension of the
Biswas et al., 2013
743 Journal of Research in Biology (2013) 3(1): 742-748
frontal bone (Figures 1C and 1D). The olfactory nerve
tracts are arised from the base of olfactory rosette and the
length varies from 16 mm to 18 mm respectively. The
distal part of the olfactory nerve tracts are connected
with olfactory lobes of the brain. The size of the
olfactory lobes is comparatively small in R. kanagurta
(Figure 1C).
In S. commersonianus (Figure 2A), the nostrils
are closely associated. The anterior nostril is an oval
shaped aperture and partly guarded by a nasal flap where
as the posterior nostril is crescentric in shape
(Figure 2B). The olfactory rosette is circular in shape and
consisting of two pairs of olfactory lamellae
(Figures 2C and 2D). The number of the olfactory
lamellae ranges from 100 to 140 per rosette (Figure 2D).
The accessory nasal sacs are not distinct in the olfactory
apparatus. The olfactory nerve tracts are arised from the
base of the olfactory rosette and the length is ranges from
10 mm to 12 mm. The olfactory lobe is comparatively
large in size (Figure 2C).
Interestingly, the nostrils of P. scaber
(Figure 3A) are situated at the antero-dorsal region to the
Biswas et al., 2013
Journal of Research in Biology (2013) 3(1): 742-748 744
Figure 1A - Schematic representation of Rastrelliger kanagurta.

Figure1B - The diagram shows oval shaped anterior nostril and transverse slit like posterior nostrils of
R. kanagurta.

Figure 1C - The olfactory apparatus of R. kanagurta shows olfactory rosette (OLR), lacrimal sac (LS),
ethmoidal sac (ES), olfactory nerve (OLN), olfactory lobe (OL), cerebral hemisphere (CHS),
optic lobe (OPL), cerebellum (CBL), medulla oblongata (MO), etc.

Figure 1D - The olfactory rosette (OLR) along with conical accessory nasal sacs viz., lacrimal sac (LS) and
ethmoidal sac (ETS).

Figure 1E - The dorsal view of oval shaped olfactory rosette shows central raphe (r), two rows of
lamella (l). The olfactory lamella is triangular in shape with prominent dorsal end (de), proximal end (pe)
and ventral margin (vm).
Plate - 1
OLR
LS
ETS


eye and lying far apart from each other. The anterior
nostril is oval in shape and has a tongue like nasal flap
where as the posterior nostril is valvular (Figure 3B).
The olfactory rosette is relatively large in size and oval
in shape (Figures 3C and 3D). The number of the
olfactory lamellae varies from 50 to 76 in number per
rosette (Figure 3D). The absence of accessory nasal sacs
is noted in the olfactory apparatus of P. scaber. The
length of the olfactory nerve tracts ranges from
22 mm - 24 mm. and it is well connected with the
olfactory lobe of the brain (Figure 3C).



DISCUSSION
Olfactory systems of fish are among the most
highly developed olfactory senses of vertebrates
(Kleerekoper, 1969). The sense of olfaction is mediated
through olfactory apparatus associated with nostrils. The
nostrils are responsible for incurrent and excurrent of
water during water ventilation (Nevitt, 1991). The
structure of the anterior and posterior nostril varies
among the teleostean fishes (Kapoor and Ojha, 1972).
The presence of nasal flaps in between the both nostrils
is almost common when they are closely associated
(Teichmann, 1954). The anterior and posterior nostril
probably acts as an avenue for water ventilation through
the olfactory rosette (Cox, 2008). The multilamellar
Biswas et al., 2013
745 Journal of Research in Biology (2013) 3(1): 742-748
Figure 2A - Schematic representation of Scomberoides commersonianus.

Figure 2B - The diagram shows anterior and posterior nostrils of S. commersonianus. Nasal flap (FL) is
distinct.

Figure 2C - The olfactory apparatus of S. commersonianus is comprises of olfactory rosette (OLR),
olfactory nerve (OLN), olfactory lobe (OL), cerebral hemisphere (CHS), optic lobe (OPL),
cerebellum (CBL), medulla oblongata (MO), etc.

Figure 2D - The circular olfactory rosette shows central raphe (r), two rows of lamella (l). The olfactory
lamella is large, triangular in shape with prominent dorsal margin (dm), dorsal end (de),
ventral margin (vm) and lingual process (lp).
Plate - 2
olfactory rosette perhaps adopt several type of
arrangement pattern (Holl, 1965). This lamellar
arrangement may help in the particular sensitivity to
certain components like amino acids, steroids,
prostaglandins, etc. (Theisen et al., 1991). Anatomically
the lamellar surface in S. commersonianus is much closer
due to the short distance between anterior and posterior
nostril than R. kanagurta and P. scaber. Therefore, the
water soluble odorants may travel short distance to
interact with comparatively greater olfactory lamellar
surface of S. commersonianus. The water ventilation is
assisted by the pumping mechanism of accessory nasal
sacs (Theisen et al., 1991) and may provide the ability
to sniff (Nevitt, 1991; Cox, 2008). R. kanagurta
possesses well developed accessory nasal sacs but
S. commersonianus and P. scaber has no accessory nasal
sacs. The movement of jaws and its associated muscles
are also very significant for the water ventilation
(Nevitt, 1991). Accessory nasal sacs may be found in the
olfactory organs of fishes with widely variable life styles
and habitats, both marine and fresh water which are not
confined to one particular situation (Cox, 2008).
The olfactory nerve may convey the chemical cues
during water ventilation to the brain (Hamdani and
Dving, 2007). The olfactory information plays an
important role in different behaviour of fish such as
Biswas et al., 2013
Journal of Research in Biology (2013) 3(1): 742-748 746
Plate - 3
Figure 3A - Schematic representation of Platycephalus scaber.

Figure 3B - The diagram shows anterior and posterior nostrils of P. scaber situated at a distance from each
other. Long nasal flap (FL) is also marked.

Figure 3C - The olfactory apparatus of P. scaber is comprised of olfactory rosette (OLR), olfactory nerve
(OLN), olfactory lobe (OL), cerebral hemisphere (CHS), optic lobe (OPL), cerebellum (CBL), medulla
oblongata (MO), etc.

Figure 3D - The circular olfactory rosette indicates central raphe (r) and two rows of lamella (l).
The olfactory lamella is triangular in shape with prominent dorsal margin (dm), dorsal end (de) and
proximal end (pe).


searching of foods, avoidance of predators,
discrimination between individuals of the same and
different, parental care, orientation in migration, etc.
(Hara, 1971). The olfactory system of teleosts is highly a
specialized structure for the recognition of various water
soluble chemical cues, so this may serve as a biological
model to monitor environmental health as well
as specific meagerness of the pollutants. The
xenotoxification of ocean especially the acidification
may also impair the ability of olfactory discrimination of
coastal and marine species (Munday et al., 2009). Thus,
it is necessary to examine the effect of specific toxic
agent at a subcellular level of olfactory structures in
marine teleolsts.

CONCLUSION
This comparative anatomical study on the
olfactory apparatus along with brain in three different
marine teleost belonging to the diverse ecological habitat
shows much structural variation according to the
changing environment which may be significant for
ecomorphology and evolutionary aspects of
neurobiology (Kotrschal et al., 1998). However, the
olfactory system of marine, estuarine and coastal or
migratory species may experience rapid fluctuations of
environmental inorganic ions (Hubbard et al., 2000), so
it could be an interesting part to identify the cellular
components that are involved in the ion regulation of the
olfactory apparatus in these migratory teleosts.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Authors are thankful to the Head, Department of
Zoology, Vidyasagar University, West Bengal, for
providing the necessary laboratory facilities.

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Journal of Research in Biology (2013) 3(1): 742-748 748
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