Bulbar representation of the 'water-nose' during Xenopus ontogeny.

ABSTRACT

Olfactory epithelium that is specialized for the detection of water-borne odors is located in different cranial cavities in larval and postmetamorphic Xenopus. Soybean agglutinin histochemistry reveals that both "water-noses' innervate only the ventral olfactory bulb (OB). This is evidence for a parcellation of the OB into a ventral portion mediating information on water-soluble odorants and a dorsal part that processes information on volatile substances.