Weronika Rupik

Dr. Weronika Rupik

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Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

25Years (2002-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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13 January 2017 in Frontiers in Zoology
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Journal Article
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PKPaweł Kaczmarek
Paweł Kaczmarek
MHMateusz Hermyt
Mateusz Hermyt
WRWeronika Rupik
Weronika Rupik
Snakes are considered to be vomerolfaction specialists. They are members of one of the most diverse groups of vertebrates, Squamata. The vomeronasal organ and the associated structures (such as the lacrimal duct, choanal groove, lamina transversalis anterior and cupola Jacobsoni) of adult lizards and snakes have received much anatomical, histological, physiological and behavioural attention. However, only limited embryological investigation into these structures, constrained to some anatomical or cellular studies and brief surveys, has been carried out thus far. The purpose of this study was, first, to examine the embryonic development of the vomeronasal organ and the associated structures in the grass snake (Natrix natrix), using three-dimensional reconstructions based on histological studies, and, second, to compare the obtained results with those presented in known publications on other snakes and lizards. Five major developmental processes were taken into consideration in this study: separation of the vomeronasal organ from the nasal cavity and its specialization, development of the mushroom body, formation of the lacrimal duct, development of the cupola Jacobsoni and its relation to the vomeronasal nerve, and specialization of the sensory epithelium. Our visualizations showed the VNO in relation to the nasal cavity, choanal groove, lacrimal duct and cupola Jacobsoni at different embryonic stages. We confirmed that the choanal groove disappears gradually, which indicates that this structure is absent in adult grass snakes. On our histological sections, we observed a gradual growth in the height of the columns of the vomeronasal sensory epithelium and widening of the spaces between them. The main ophidian taxa (Scolecophidia, Henophidia and Caenophidia), just like other squamate clades, seem to be evolutionarily conservative at some levels with respect to the VNO and associated structures morphology. Thus, it was possible to homologize certain embryonic levels of the anatomical and histological complexity, observed in the grass snake, with adult conditions of certain groups of Squamata. This may reflect evolutionary shift in Squamata from visually oriented predators to vomerolfaction specialists. Our descriptions offer material useful for future comparative studies of Squamata, both at their anatomical and histological levels.

1 August 2011 in Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A: Molecular & Integrative Physiology
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Journal Article
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WRWeronika Rupik
Weronika Rupik
KJKrzysztof Piotr Jasik
Krzysztof Piotr Jasik
JBJadwiga Bembenek
Jadwiga Bembenek
WWWiesława Widłak
Wiesława Widłak



18 October 2006 in Brain Structure and Function
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Journal Article
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WRWeronika Rupik
Weronika Rupik
ASAgata Stawierej
Agata Stawierej
ISIwona Stolarczyk
Iwona Stolarczyk
WWWiesława Widłak
Wiesława Widłak

27 November 2008 in Acta Zoologica
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Journal Article
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ESElwira Swadźba
Elwira Swadźba
RMRobert Maślak
Robert Maślak
WRWeronika Rupik
Weronika Rupik