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Ultrastructural investigation of the postnatal development of the hamster harderian gland

II. Male and female

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Summary

The lobules of the Harderian glands of young male and female hamsters are widely separated by connective tissue and are made up of alveolar cells containing small vacuoles. There is considerable increase in the size of the lobules by 12 days. Based on size distribution of vacuoles two types of alveolar cells can be recognized in the male hamsters 4 weeks and older. The Harderian glands of 2-week animals of both sexes contain a black-brown pigment. The appearance of pigment is accompanied by a proliferation of membranes. In the female the amount of pigment increases with increasing age until 4 weeks of age and then remains at a relatively stable level. In the male no pigment was found after 4 weeks of age.

Membrane-bounded juxtanuclear structures are present in the alveolar cells of both sexes until 3 weeks of age. These structures appear to play different roles in the male and female hamsters. The differentiation of the alveolar cells into light and dark types must take place during the 3rd week of postnatal development. A possible relationship between the levels of gonadal hormones and the occurrence of pigment at different ages in both sexes is also discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biological Sciences Department, Illinois State University, Normal, Illinois, U.S.A.

    Corazon D. Bucana & Mathew J. Nadakavukaren

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  1. Corazon D. Bucana
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  2. Mathew J. Nadakavukaren
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This investigation was partially supported by a research grant to one of the authors (MJN) from Illinois State University.

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Bucana, C.D., Nadakavukaren, M.J. Ultrastructural investigation of the postnatal development of the hamster harderian gland. Z.Zellforsch 142, 1–12 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00306700

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00306700

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