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The primate Harderian gland: Does it really exist?

Susan J Rehorek1, Timothy D Smith

  • 1Department of Biology, Slippery Rock University, Slippery Rock, PA 16057, USA. susan.rehorek@sru.edu

Annals of Anatomy = Anatomischer Anzeiger : Official Organ of the Anatomische Gesellschaft
|July 22, 2006
PubMed
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The Harderian gland, an orbital structure, is present in most neonatal primates, contrary to previous assumptions based on adult anatomy. Its presence in newborns suggests a potentially overlooked role in primate development.

Area of Science:

  • Comparative Anatomy
  • Primate Embryology
  • Ocular Anatomy

Background:

  • The Harderian gland, an anterior orbital structure, is generally considered absent or vestigial in adult primates based on gross anatomical studies.
  • Previous anatomical observations primarily focused on adult specimens, potentially overlooking the gland's presence in earlier developmental stages.
  • While largely absent in adult humans, the Harderian gland is known to exist in fetal and neonatal stages.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the presence and characteristics of the Harderian gland in neonatal primates.
  • To determine if the Harderian gland's presence or absence correlates with phylogenetic groups within primates.
  • To re-evaluate the anatomical status of the Harderian gland in primates, considering neonatal development.

Main Methods:

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  • Histological examination of the orbital regions of neonatal specimens from 12 primate species.
  • Species included representatives from strepsirrhines (Lemuriformes, Lorisiformes) and haplorhines (tarsiers, callitrichids).
  • Careful dissection and histological analysis to identify the Harderian gland, which is often obscured by surrounding orbital tissues.

Main Results:

  • The Harderian gland was found to be present in most neonatal primates examined, often embedded in periorbital fat or connective tissue, explaining why it was missed in gross anatomical studies.
  • Tarsal glands were consistently identified in all neonatal primate eyelids.
  • The relative size of the neonatal Harderian gland varied, categorized into five groups from large to absent (tarsiers), with no clear phylogenetic trends observed, although it appears present in all strepsirrhines and callitrichids.

Conclusions:

  • The Harderian gland is present in numerous primates at birth, potentially in all strepsirrhines.
  • The presence of the Harderian gland in callitrichids challenges the notion that all anthropoids lack this gland postnatally.
  • The tarsier appears unique among the studied primates for lacking a Harderian gland postnatally, suggesting another apomorphic trait; further research is needed on its function and relation to tarsal glands.