title: Ultrastructure of the blood vessels in the Harderian gland of the hamster (Mesocricetus auratus): existence of sinusoids.
abstract: The Harderian gland blood supply of female and male hamsters was studied using light and electron microscopy. A profuse vascularization surrounding secretory acini was observed. Among the blood vessels, the existence of large and irregular sinusoidal capillaries was apparent. These sinusoids appeared in close association to the basal aspect of the secretory cells. Typical, small, fenestrated capillaries were also observed within the connective tissue. The existence of this particular vascularization together with other morphological features of the secretory cell basal pole suggest a possible endocrine function of these orbital glands.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Morfología y Biología Celular, Facultades de Biología y Medicina, Universidad de Oviedo, Spain.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Menendez-Pelaez
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tolivia
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Rodriguez-Colunga
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Reiter
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006224:Cricetinae / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005260:Female; D006243:Harderian Gland / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007765:Lacrimal Apparatus / Q000098:blood supply*; D008297:Male; D008647:Mesocricetus / Q000033:anatomy & histology*