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Exocrine glands and protein secretion: a stereological viewpoint
Author(s) -
Cope G. H.
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
journal of microscopy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.569
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1365-2818
pISSN - 0022-2720
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2818.1983.tb04245.x
Subject(s) - secretion , exocrine pancreas , secretory protein , stereology , granule (geology) , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , population , exocrine gland , pancreas , pathology , endocrinology , medicine , paleontology , environmental health
SUMMARY The exocrine pancreas and the parotid salivary gland have been widely used as models for studying the synthesis, intracellular transport and discharge of exportable proteins. This article briefly reviews quantitative morphological (stereological) studies which have been made of these glands and assesses their contribution to our understanding of the secretory process. A general stereological profile of these glands is presented and the way in which their morphology changes during development is outlined. Detailed consideration is given to the granule population of the cells, particularly the way in which granules are formed and discharged as a result of secretory stimuli. The membrane content of secretory cells and membrane dynamics during the secretory cycle are also examined. Throughout, the emphasis is placed on the interpretation of stereological data rather than on the methods themselves.