Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 19, 2025
10:11
In-depth Physiological Analysis of Defined Cell Populations in Acute Tissue Slices of the Mouse Vomeronasal Organ
Published on: September 10, 2016
7.6K
Does the Farming Method Influence the Porcine Vomeronasal Organ Condition? A Histological Study
Violaine Mechin1, Pietro Asproni1, Eva Teruel2
1Tissue Biology and Chemical Communication Department, IRSEA-Institute of Research in Semiochemistry and Applied Ethology, 84400 Apt, France.
Animals : an Open Access Journal From MDPI
|July 27, 2024
Summary
Free-range pigs show more vomeronasal organ (VNO) inflammation and collagenolysis than intensively housed pigs. This suggests environmental factors and behaviors like rooting may damage the VNO, impacting social interactions.
Area of Science:
- Animal Science
- Histology
- Comparative Anatomy
Background:
- The vomeronasal organ (VNO) is crucial for pheromone detection and social interactions in mammals.
- VNO inflammation can negatively affect animal welfare and social behaviors, as observed in pigs.
- Farm environments, particularly air quality, are suspected to contribute to VNO alterations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To histologically compare vomeronasal organ (VNO) alterations in pigs under intensive versus free-range farming conditions.
- To assess differences in nonsensory and sensory epithelium inflammation and collagenolysis between housing systems.
Main Methods:
- Histological examination of VNO sections from pigs (n=38 intensive, n=35 free-range).
- Hematoxylin and eosin staining to evaluate epithelial alterations and collagenolysis.
- Statistical comparison of VNO changes between the two farming environments.
Main Results:
- Pigs in free-range conditions exhibited significantly higher nonsensory epithelium inflammation (p < 0.0001).
- Free-range pigs showed significantly more pronounced collagenolysis in the nonsensory epithelium (p < 0.0001).
- The sensory epithelium displayed no significant differences in alterations between housing conditions (p = 0.7267).
Conclusions:
- Free-range farming conditions are associated with greater VNO nonsensory epithelium damage compared to intensive farming.
- Species-typical behaviors like rooting may increase microparticle exposure, leading to VNO changes in free-range pigs.
- VNO alterations may underlie impaired social interactions observed in pigs under certain environmental conditions.
