DEVELOPMENTAL STUDY OF THE OLFACTORY BULB IN RABBITS Oryctolagus cuniculus

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the development of olfactory bulb (OB) in indigenous rabbit. A total of 40 healthy rabbits were divided into two groups according to their ages, the first group involved the prenatal stages, while the second group involved the post natal ages. All specimens for this study processed by the routine paraffin method and stained with H and E stain. The light microscopy examination revealed that, At 20 day old fetuses the olfactory bulb consisted of two layers. The marginal zone formed of axons of the olfactory sensory neurons and the ensheathing progenitors cells surrounded amass of cells. At 28 day of gestation and one day postnatal, the olfactory bulb consisted of three layers, olfactory nerve layer, mitral cell layer, and granule cell layer and at (7-14) day old pups glomeruli appeared as spherical structure surrounded by periglomerular cells and the glomerular layer was clearly distinguished. The mitral cell layer appeared as cellular zone. 21 days old pups. The six layers of olfactory bulb was clearly appeared (olfactory nerve layer, glomerular layer, external plexiform layer, mitral cell layer, internal plexiform layer, and granule cell layer). At 30 day age pups the histological structure of the olfactory bulb was completely developed