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Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances

Light and Electron Microscopic Studies of the Quail (Coturnix coturnix) Harderian Gland
Tolunay Kozlu and Hikmet Altunay

Abstract: The aim of this study was to present the light and electron microscopic structure of the Coturnix coturnix harderian gland. The quail harderian gland was a single lobe of glandular tubuloalveolar profiles with columnar epithelial cells of varying heights. The secretory cells contained abundant mitochondria and well-developed rough endoplasmic reticulum and varying numbers of secretory vesicles in their cytoplasm (type I). These cells exhibited apically located microvilli. The secretion was collected by the ducts of harderian gland which were generally lined by a single layer of epithelium varying from cuboidal to columnar. The mode of secretion of the quail harderian gland was of holocrine and the secretory cells reacted positively with PAS. Myoepithelial cells were present in the basal region of secretory cells. The plasma cells were observed in the subepithelial region of the gland both among the corpus glandulae and in the connective tissue between the ducts. No difference was observed between sexes.

How to cite this article
Tolunay Kozlu and Hikmet Altunay, 2011. Light and Electron Microscopic Studies of the Quail (Coturnix coturnix) Harderian Gland. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 10: 932-938.

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