Light and Electron Microscopic Studies of the Quail (Coturnix coturnix) Harderian Gland

摘要

The aim of this study was to present the light and electron microscopic structure of the Coturnix coturnix harderian gland. The quail harderian gland was a single lobe of glandular tubuloalveolar profiles with columnar epithelial cells of varying heights. The secretory cells contained abundant mitochondria and well-developed rough endoplasmic reticulum and varying numbers of secretory vesicles in their cytoplasm (type I). These cells exhibited apically located microvilli. The secretion was collected by the ducts of harderian gland which were generally lined by a single layer of epithelium varying from cuboidal to columnar. The mode of secretion of the quail harderian gland was of holocrine and the secretory cells reacted positively with PAS. Myoepithelial cells were present in the basal region of secretory cells. The plasma cells were observed in the subepithelial region of the gland both among the corpus glandulae and in the connective tissue between the ducts. No difference was observed between sexes.