P. Peretto et al., Sexually dimorphic neurogenesis is topographically matched with the anterior accessory olfactory bulb of the adult rat, CELL TIS RE, 306(3), 2001, pp. 385-389
The accessory olfactory bulb (AOB) is a sexually dimorphic structure of the
vomeronasal system, which plays a role in the control of sexual behaviors.
In adult rats, we have demonstrated previously that the migrating neurobla
sts of the subependymal layer (SEL) directed to the main olfactory bulb (MO
B) also reach the AOB. To tackle the relation between sexual dimorphism and
targeted cell migration, we quantified the neo-neurogenesis in the AOB of
adult rats of both sexes. Our results confirm a morphological sexual dimorp
hism in the AOB granular layer volumes. We showed that the number of newly
generated cells reaching the AOB in both sexes was considerable, even if lo
wer than those directed to the MOB. Moreover, we demonstrated that the rate
of neurogenesis in the anterior AOB of the two sexes was significantly dif
ferent.