Ultrastructural study on the harderian gland of the rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus)

The ultrastructure of the Harderian gland of the rabbit has been studied. The gland can be divided into two lobes (pink and white) by the naked eye. At the microscopic level, their epithelial cells differ morphologically, the vacuoles in the cells of the pink lobe being large, while those of the white lobe, small. In addition to the pink and white lobes, an intermediate area can be distinguished around the boundary between the two lobes on the basis of epithelial cell compositions. The acini on this area consist of two epithelial cell types, one is similar to that found in the white lobe, the second consists of the same cells as the pink lobe Myoepithelial cells are located between the secretory epithelium and its basal lamina. Mast cells, macrophages and plasma cells are found in the interstitial connective tissue of the Harderian gland.