Ultrastructure and immunohistochemical characterization of proteins concerned with the secretory machinery in goat ceruminous glands

The expression of soluble N-ethyl-maleimide sensitive fusion attachment protein receptor (SNARE) proteins in apocrine glands has not been fully elucidated. In addition to performing ultrastructural observation of the ceruminous glands in goats, our study focuses on the demonstration of β-defensins, SNARE proteins and Rab3D in these glands with the use of immunohistochemical methods. The secretory cells were equipped with two types of vesicles, Golgi apparatus and abundant rough endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Additionally, in some of them, the characteristic concentric structures composed of rough ER were observed in their circum- and infranuclear parts. The expression of phosphorylated inositol requiring enzyme 1a was also detected. These findings may indicate their ability to produce numerous secretory proteins and the maintenance of homeostasis in the glandular cells. Furthermore, β-defensins were demonstrated as products of the ceruminous glands. The present investigation also revealed the presence of SNARE proteins and Rab3D. It is suggested that these proteins are concerned with the secretory machinery of this gland type