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Harderian gland ultrastructure of the black sea bottlenose dolphin ( Tursiops truncatus ponticus )
Author(s) -
Bodyak Natalie D.,
Stepanova Lily V.
Publication year - 1994
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.1052200208
Subject(s) - bottlenose dolphin , harderian gland , biology , ultrastructure , sexual dimorphism , secretion , endocrine system , zoology , anatomy , sex pheromone , microbiology and biotechnology , endocrinology , hormone , ecology
Abstract Examination of the Harderian gland structure of the Black Sea bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus ponticus , at macroscopic, microscopic, and electron microscopic levels shows significant sexual dimorphism. The epithelial cells of male and female glands are different cell types, capable of producing chemically different products. Secretory cells in both sexes contain secretion granules that produce a secretion consisting mainly of proteins and carbohydrates, but thought to be sex‐specific in composition. The female glands also contain lipid secretion granules. It is suggested that in the bottlenose dolphin the Harderian gland functions to produce sexually distinct pheromones and may have other physiological activities, e.g., participating in local immunological or endocrine‐related reactions. © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.