Architecture of the mammalian vibrissae medulla: polymorphism and nomenclature

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Abstract

For the first time, scanning electron microscopy was used to identify, study, and systematize the architecture of the vibrissa medulla in 101 species from 80 genera belonging to eight orders of Mammalia using an original nomenclature. The wide variability of its architecture is due to the diversity of sizes and relationships of the internal compartments of the vibrissae (air cavities and partitions). Different types of medulla were established: membranous, pyramidal, blocky cylindrical, blocky polyhedral, chaotic, small cellular, large cellular, star-shaped, uniserial, and hollow. Medulla of different types can be combined in one vibrissa. In a number of species that lead an underground (moles, mole rats), semi-aquatic (desman) and aquatic (bowhead whale) lifestyle, the medulla in the vibrissae is absent.

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O. F. Chernova

A.N. Severtsov Institute of Biology of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Author for correspondence.
Email: olga.chernova.moscow@gmail.com
Russian Federation, Moscow

Yu. F. Ivlev

A.N. Severtsov Institute of Biology of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Email: olga.chernova.moscow@gmail.com
Russian Federation, Moscow

Е. G. Potapova

A.N. Severtsov Institute of Biology of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Email: olga.chernova.moscow@gmail.com
Russian Federation, Moscow

O. V. Zherebtsova

Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Email: olga.chernova.moscow@gmail.com
Russian Federation, St. Petersburg

E. M. Shchelkanov

State University of Education

Email: olga.chernova.moscow@gmail.com
Russian Federation, Moscow Region, Mytishchi

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Supplementary files

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2. Fig. 1. Examples of the arrangement of vibrissae and the structure of their core. Vibrissae of an adult female desman (Desmana moschata) (a), arrangement of vibrissae on the face of an adult female dormouse (Glis glis) (b), an individual vibrissa of a forest dormouse (Dryomys nitedula) (c), zones of the core cord and types of its core (d). (b) – groups of vibrissae: ir – Vibrissae interramales (cervical), ge – V. genales (cheek), li – V. labiales inferior (lower labial), ls – V. labiales superior (upper labial), mc – V. mystaciales (whiskers), sm – V. submentales (chin). The numbers above are the transverse rows of vibrissae, the longitudinal rows are indicated in Latin, and the vibrissae of the zero row are indicated in Greek letters. Types of core: I - film, II - pyramidal, Ш - block cylindrical, IV - block polyhedral, V - chaotic, VI - fine-meshed, VII - large-meshed, VIII - stellate, Х - single-row. Type IX - hollow core is not included in the diagram. For clarity, in the diagram (d) the basal part of the vibrissae is disproportionately expanded compared to its natural proportions (c). (a) - photo by Yu.F. Ivlev, scale 10 mm; (c) - photo, scale 30 µm.

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3. Fig. 2. Architectonics of the core of mammalian vibrissae in a longitudinal section of the rod at its base (zone 1, a, f, g) and above (zone 2, b–e, h–p), core types I–V. I – film, II – pyramidal, III – block cylindrical, IV – block polyhedral, V – chaotic. Species: (a) Diplomys caniceps, (b) Ctenodactylus gundi, (c) Idiurus macrotis, (d) Hylomys suillus, (e) Otohylomys megalotis, (f) Laonastes aenigmamus, (g) Petaurista petaurista, (h) †Canis lupus ssp., (i) Sylvaemus sylvaticus, (j) Martes zibellina, (k) M. martes, (l) Mustela nivalis, (m) M. erminea, (n) Felis catus, (o) Arvicola terrestris, (p) Microtus oeconomus. SEM data. Scale, µm: d, i, o, p – 10; a, l, m, n – 20; b, c, e, f, g, h, j, k, n – 50.

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4. Fig. 3. Architectonics of the mammalian vibrissa core in a longitudinal section of the shaft above its base (zone 2), types VI–X. VI – fine-meshed, VII – coarse-meshed, VIII – stellate, IX – hollow, X – single-row. Species: (a) Chincilla lanigera, (b) Octodon degus, (c) Hydropotes inermis, (d) Procapra gutturosa, (e) Lepus tolai, (f) Tamias sp., (g) Phodopus roborovski, (h) Glis glis, (i) Trichomys apereoides, (j) Echimys sp., (k) Laonastes aenigmamus, (l) Rattus lutreolus, (m) R. fulcipes, (n) Sorex araneus, (o) Meriones meridianus. SEM data. Scale, µm: c, d, f, g, o – 10; h, n – 20; a, b, e, i, j, k, l, m – 50.

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5. Fig. 4. The medulla of mammalian vibrissae in cross-section of its shaft above the base (zone 2, a–f) and changes in the architectonics of the medulla along the shaft of the vibrissa (g, h). (a) membranous in Ctenodactylus gundi, (b) blocky cylindrical in Pectinator spekei, (c) stellate in Trichomys apereoides, (d) finely cellular in Chinchilla lanigera, (e) chaotic in Echimys sp., (f) pyramidal in Hylomys suillus, (g) blocky cylindrical at the base of the vibrissa (Fig. 1d, zone 1) and (h) blocky polyhedral above the base of the vibrissa (Fig. 1d, zone 2) in Prionailurus bengalensis euptilurus. SEM data. Scale, µm: a, b, c, d, g, h – 50; e – 20; f – 10.

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Presented by Academician of the RAS V.V. Rozhnov


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