Septal organ of Grüneberg is part of the olfactory system

Abstract

The olfactory system in rodents and many other mammals is classically divided into two anatomically separate, and morphologically distinct, sensory systems: the main olfactory system and the accessory olfactory system. We have now identified a novel third population of olfactory marker protein‐expressing sensory neurons that is located in a discrete pocket of the rostral nasal septum, which we refer to as the septal organ of Grüneberg (SOG). Neurons in this region of the septum are located in the submucosa, in small grape‐like clusters, rather than in a pseudostratified neuroepithelium, as seen in both the olfactory and vomeronasal neuroepithelia. Despite their unusual location, axons projecting from the SOG neurons fasciculate into several discrete bundles and terminate in a subset of main olfactory bulb glomeruli. These glomeruli most likely represent a subset of atypical glomeruli that are spatially restricted to the caudal main olfactory bulb. The unique rostral position of the SOG suggests that the SOG may be functionally specialized for the early detection of biologically relevant odorants. J. Comp. Neurol. 494:834–844, 2006.