[Late embryonic development of the vomeronasal complex of the cat (Felis silvestris)].

An examination of 2 feline embryos in different stages of development (overall length 60 and 115 mm respectively) reveals a well developed vomeronasal complex in each case. Jacobson's Organs embedded within the paraseptal cartilage form long blind tubes at the base of the septum nasi. The cartilage is caudally tub-shaped and embraces rostrally completely the organ over a considerable length. In this manner a long, nearly tunnel-like tube is formed which represents a modified form of the original outer bar and which has not been described so far in cats. It stretches rostro-ventrally across the branching region of the paraseptal cartilage as far as the mouth of Jacobson's Organ. The dorsal branch of the cartilago paraseptalis on the other hand forms a vertically oriented strip which connects to the lamina transversalis anterior. The ductus nasopalatinus passing through the palate is laterally supported by a cartilago ductus nasopalatini which rostrally to the mouth of Jacobson's Organ forms a unified element with the ventral branch of the cartilago paraseptalis. In the case of the younger cat embryo, this cartilago ductus nasopalatini is yet weakly developed. The ductus nasopalatini of the embryos studied are in an amazingly retarded state of development. The ductus, which are blocked in the early stages of the embryonic development during secondary palate formation, form predominantly solid strands of epithelium. By dissolving the cemented epithelium, the ductus are open. But even in the case of the older embryo of the cat, this process is not completed yet. The short duct connecting Jacobson's Organ with the ductus nasopalatinus is also still closed in both embryos. Such cemented sections of epithelium of the younger embryo reveals an interesting relation between the ductus nasopalatinus and the ductus nasolacrimalis which so far has not been pointed out for mammals. From the point of view of phylogenetics, the locally specialized vomeronasal complex of cats exhibits all the criteria of a progressive development of characteristics.