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Morphological observations on the harderian gland of the North American opossum (Didelphis virginiana)
- Source :
- Anatomy and embryology. 186(2)
- Publication Year :
- 1992
-
Abstract
- The Harderian gland of the North American opossum (Didelphis virginiana) is large and well developed, despite the absence of a nictitating membrane in the adult of this species. The elongate glands are surrounded by a delicate connective tissue capsule from which thin septae extend, subdividing the gland into numerous lobules. The secretory units of the opossum Harderian gland are drained by a well defined but not extensive intralobular and interlobular duct system. Most of the secretory end pieces consist of tubulo-alveolar units with widely dilated lumina filled with secretory product. Numerous intact lipid vesicles suspended within an amorphous material constitute the luminal contents. Cells lining the tubulo-alveolar secretory end-pieces are usually columnar in shape, and characterized by numerous lipid-containing secretory vesicles and aggregations of poly-tubular complexes 40-60 nm in diameter. In addition, these cells contain numerous large irregularly shaped mitochondria, whose matrix is of considerable electron density. Intralobular and interlobular ducts are lined by electron-lucent epithelial cells that lack both the lipid-containing vesicles and the large mitochondria, although typical smaller mitochondria are found scattered within the cytoplasm. Both secretory end-pieces and ductal elements are invested by an abundance of myoepithelial cells. A second, smaller serous type of secretory unit may occur near the centre of some Harderian gland lobules. In these units secretory tubules and acini are compactly arranged surrounding a narrow lumen. Serous cells are pyramidal in shape and the cytoplasm is characterized by numerous electron-dense secretory granules and scattered profiles of rough endoplasmic reticulum.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
- Subjects :
- Male
Embryology
Exocrine gland
Didelphis
Epithelium
Harderian gland
Opossum
medicine
Animals
Interlobular duct
biology
Harderian Gland
Cell Membrane
Myoepithelial cell
Epithelial Cells
Cell Biology
Anatomy
Opossums
biology.organism_classification
Secretory Vesicle
Microscopy, Electron
medicine.anatomical_structure
Adenomere
Female
Developmental Biology
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 03402061
- Volume :
- 186
- Issue :
- 2
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Anatomy and embryology
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....25ff4e1dfaf3c73403edcd7302bab484