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Morphology, histochemistry and physiology of the major salivary glands in the echidna Tachyglossus aculeatus (Monotremata)
Author(s) -
van Lennep E. W.,
Kennerson A. R.,
Young J. A.,
Hales J. R. S.
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
journal of morphology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.652
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1097-4687
pISSN - 0362-2525
DOI - 10.1002/jmor.1051590204
Subject(s) - biology , serous fluid , myoepithelial cell , nasal glands , sublingual gland , anatomy , salivary gland , saliva , hedgehog , monotreme , immunohistochemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , mucous membrane of nose , zoology , biochemistry , immunology , taxonomy (biology) , signal transduction , systematics
The three major salivary glands of the monotreme echidna are described. The parotid is a typical serous gland with tubulo‐acinar secretory endpieces and a well‐developed system of striated ducts. The mandibular gland, although light microscopically resembling a mucous gland, secretes very little glycoprotein. Its cells are packed instead with serous granules, resembling in fine structure the “bull's eye” granules in the mandibular gland of the European hedgehog Erinaceus europaeus . The sublingual glands secrete an extremely viscous mucous saliva. Expulsion of this saliva through the narrow ducts is probably aided by contraction of the extensive myoepithelial sheaths surrounding the secretory tubules. Application of the glyoxylic acid induced fluorescence method failed to demonstrate adrenergic innervation in any of the glands.