Authors : Tolunay Kozlu, Yesim Akaydin Bozkurt, Hikmet Altunay and Ebru Karadag Sari
Abstract: The aim of the present study was to demonstrate the histological and histochemical structure of the Harderian gland of the osprey. The Harderian gland of the osprey (Pandion haliaetus) is a tubuloalveolar gland. The gland lumen was lined by columnar epithelial cells of varying height which were filled with secretory vesicles and by dark cells found among these cells. It was observed that the secretion was produced in the corpus glandulae and was extracted by primary and secondary ducts. In addition, plasma cells were present in interlobular trabeculae. Histochemical stainings which were performed to determine the character of the glandular secretion revealed that the majority of the secretory cells contained only acidic mucins whilst the remaining secretory cells contained both neutral and acidic mucins. Furthermore, it was observed that some cells of the primary and secondary ducts epithelium had secretory vesicles containing only neutral mucin. The presence of reticulum fibres was demonstrated in the interlobular trabeculae.
Tolunay Kozlu, Yesim Akaydin Bozkurt, Hikmet Altunay and Ebru Karadag Sari, 2010. Histological and Histochemical Studies on the Harderian Gland of the Osprey (Pandion haliaetus). Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 9: 1875-1879.