The mammalian harderian gland: morphology, biochemistry, function and phylogeny.

The mammalian Harderian gland: morphology, biochemistry, function and phylogeny.

It is proposed that the Harderian glands are those ocular glands that have tubuloalveolar endpieces with wide lumina and secrete lipid by a merocrine mechanism. The Harderian gland occurs in various mammals, not only in eutherias but also in marsupials. However, as the gland has hereto-fore been studied almost exclusively in rodents and lagomorphs, it should be studied more in other groups of m...

Proteome profiling in the rat Harderian gland.

The Harderian gland is an orbital gland located behind the ocular bulb in most terrestrial vertebrates probably functioning for production of lipid secretion to protect the eye. We herein present a protein reference database of the rat Harderian gland that may serve as analytical tool for future proteomic work, report lipid and porphyrin handling cascades, address sequence conflicts and report ...

Myofibroblasts and myoepithelial cells in the chicken harderian gland.

An electron microscopic study of the myoepithelial cells in the chicken Harderian gland provides evidence that these cells can be transformed into myofibroblasts. After the application of a Brucella ovis suspension in sterile saline onto the eyeball, every 5 minutes for half an hour, myoepithelial cells gradually develop over a 90-minute period the characteristic features of myofibroblasts: bun...

Novel function of lipids as a pheromone from the Harderian gland of golden hamster

Sexual diversity of ADG in Harderian gland of golden hamster was demonstrated on TLC. Female ADG contained iso- and anteiso-branched acyl and alkyl components, but male ADG contained only straight chain ones, which suggested the hormonal control of the expression of acyl-CoA dehydrogenases in the catabolism of BCAA. Acyl-CoA dehydrogenases were not expressed in the absence of testosterone, and ...

Secretory response to light in rat Harderian gland: possible photoprotective role of Harderian porphyrin.