Morphogenetic processes in cultured cells from integumentary glands of deer sambar (Cervus unicolor Kerr)

The present paper describes an attempt to maintain the metatarsal and caudal glands of deer sambar (Cervus unicolor Kerr) in diffusion chambers. Another purpose was to provide information on the secretory granule of these glands. Our results show that cultured gland cells have the capacity to reassociate into islet-like organoids in diffusion chambers. Competence in some epithelial cell types may probably be regulated as a function of growth. Scanning electron microscopy of secretory cells showed that the cells in the culture often had numerous short filopodia and blebs. The secretory granules of the caudal gland were spherical and uniform in size. Some of the secretory granules had pseudopodia-like protrusions. By means of SEM, the present study provides evidence of rapid structural changes in the surfaces of epithelial cells in the course of cultivation. It has been suggested that the structural organization in the cell colonies serves to "guide" the function of secretory cells.