PDF(Pubmed)
Abstract：
Wolves, akin to their fellow canids, extensively employ chemical signals for various aspects of communication, including territory maintenance, reproductive synchronisation and social hierarchy signalling. Pheromone-mediated chemical communication operates unconsciously among individuals, serving as an innate sensory modality that regulates both their physiology and behaviour. Despite its crucial role in the life of the wolf, there is a lacuna in comprehensive research on the neuroanatomical and physiological underpinnings of chemical communication within this species. This study investigates the vomeronasal system (VNS) of the Iberian wolf, simultaneously probing potential alterations brought about by dog domestication. Our findings demonstrate the presence of a fully functional VNS, vital for pheromone-mediated communication, in the Iberian wolf. While macroscopic similarities between the VNS of the wolf and the domestic dog are discernible, notable microscopic differences emerge. These distinctions include the presence of neuronal clusters associated with the sensory epithelium of the vomeronasal organ (VNO) and a heightened degree of differentiation of the accessory olfactory bulb (AOB). Immunohistochemical analyses reveal the expression of the two primary families of vomeronasal receptors (V1R and V2R) within the VNO. However, only the V1R family is expressed in the AOB. These findings not only yield profound insights into the VNS of the wolf but also hint at how domestication might have altered neural configurations that underpin species-specific behaviours. This understanding holds implications for the development of innovative strategies, such as the application of semiochemicals for wolf population management, aligning with contemporary conservation goals.
摘要：
狼,类似于他们的犬科动物，广泛使用化学信号进行通信的各个方面，包括领土维护，生殖同步和社会等级信号。信息素介导的化学交流在个体之间无意识地运作，作为一种先天的感官形态，调节他们的生理和行为。尽管它在狼的生活中起着至关重要的作用，在对该物种内部化学通讯的神经解剖学和生理学基础的综合研究中存在空白。这项研究调查了伊比利亚狼的犁鼻系统（VNS），同时探测狗驯化带来的潜在改变。我们的研究结果表明存在一个功能齐全的VNS，对于信息素介导的交流至关重要，在伊比利亚狼。虽然狼和家犬的VNS之间的宏观相似性是显而易见的，显著的微观差异出现。这些区别包括与犁鼻器官（VNO）的感觉上皮相关的神经元簇的存在以及副嗅球（AOB）的分化程度提高。免疫组织化学分析揭示了VNO中两个主要的卵巢鼻受体家族（V1R和V2R）的表达。然而,只有V1R家族在AOB中表达。这些发现不仅对狼的VNS产生了深刻的见解，而且还暗示了驯化可能如何改变支撑物种特定行为的神经配置。这种理解对创新战略的发展具有重要意义，例如在狼种群管理中应用化学信息素，与当代保护目标保持一致。
