title: Scanning electron microscopy of the orbital Harderian gland in the male Atlantic bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus).
abstract: The ultrastructure of the Harderian gland of Atlantic bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) was examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). We found the following surface features: the typical round appearance of the ascinar glandular unit with a finely granular surface, a thin cortex and immediately below two types of cells: type I cells (characterized by small lipid vacuoles) and type II cells (characterized by large lipid vacuoles). It has been suggested that different cells forms represent a single cell type in varying activity states. Additionally, a coalescent tubular complex, a small balloon-like structures and large globular structures were observed. These structures may be reservoirs of secretion products.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Desarrollo-Envejecimiento, Division of Neurociencias, Centro de Investigación Biomédica de Occidente, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Guadalajara, Jalisco, México. genarogabriel@yahoo.com
authors.forename: G G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Ortiz
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Feria-Velasco
authors.forename: F P
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Pacheco-Moisés
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Reinoso
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Cruz-Ramos
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Rosales-Corral
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Reiter
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D050681:Bottle-Nosed Dolphin / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006243:Harderian Gland / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008297:Male; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning / Q000662:veterinary; D009915:Orbit / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000648:ultrastructure