Cytologic observations on the secretory cells of the chin (submandibular) gland and brown inguinal gland in the rabbit

Summary

Smooth endoplasmic reticulum is more plentiful in the secretory cells of both chin and brown inguinal glands than rough endoplasmic reticulum. The smooth reticulum has a relatively dense content in chin glands while in inguinal glands it often appears empty and swollen, resulting in a characteristic cytoplasmic meshwork. Stacks of Golgi cisternae, scattered in the supranuclear region of all cells, are most numerous in male chin glands, while lysosomes are more frequent in female chin glands. Rounded secretory granules in inguinal glands and irregularly shaped secretory lakes in chin glands occur primarily in the supranuclear region. Deformed mitochondria are seen only in close association with the secretory lakes in the chin glands of bucks with normal libido and of a doe treated with depotestosterone. Secretory lakes are numerous and widespread in the chin glands of a buck with poor libido and in a buck castrated 2 weeks previously. At 1 month following castration the male chin gland closely resembles those of does. No cytologic effect of castration or depotestosterone treatment was seen in the inguinal glands. Both chin and brown inguinal secretory cells apparently release their secretions by exocytosis of juxtaluminal secretory vesicles rather than by an “apocrine” mechanism.