title: Studies on the poll glands of the one-humped camel in relation to reproductive activity. II. Ultrastructural observations.
abstract: An alveolus of an active poll gland is lined with cells in various stages of secretory activity. The cells are generally tall and characterised by the presence of a spherical nucleus, a massive Golgi complex, numerous mitochondria, granular endoplasmic reticulum, many ribosomes and secretory granules; these are features which constitute evidence of high metabolic and secretory activities. An alveolus of a resting gland, on the other hand, is lined with low inactive cells possessing an infolded nucleus, an inconspicuous Golgi complex and a few other organelles; secretory granules are virtually absent. The alveolar cells undergo a cyclic merocrine secretory activity yielding a proteinaceous product. It is suggested also that the gland may be a steroid-dependent organ accumulating or possibly synthesising steroids and releasing them through a mechanism as yet unknown.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002162:Camelus / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003594:Cytoplasmic Granules / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005088:Exocrine Glands / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D006056:Golgi Apparatus / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006257:Head; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D012098:Reproduction