The human bulbo-urethral glands. A transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy study

This paper investigates the ultrastructure of human bulbo-urethral glands using specimens obtained at surgery. The tubulo-alveolar endpieces of these glands are lined by typical mucous cells in different stages of the secretory cycle. The most interesting features of their cytoplasm are membrane-bounded bodies with a filamentous texture that usually fuse with the mucous droplets before they discharge into the lumen. Cells with apical dark granules are sometimes encountered in the ductal portions of the gland, which are probably ductal cells endowed with a scanty synthetic and secretory activity. Myoepithelial cells are not very numerous and are observed around mucous cells only.