The epithelium of the vesicular gland of the African giant rat (Cricetomys gambianus, Waterhouse): histology and ultrastructure

Abstract

The epithelium of the vesicular gland of the African giant rat was studied by the light and electron microscopes. The gland is compound tubuloalveolar, lined by a columnar epithelium, the apical surface of which is covered by a few short microvilli. The epithelial cells are the principal and basal cells. The principal cells have an abundance of rough surfaced endoplasmic reticulum (rER), which are often arranged in whorls. Basal cells are few, being wedged between adjacent principal cells in the basal region. They are fairly electron lucent and contain fewer organelles. Intraepithelial lymphocytes, which also occur mostly in the basal region are also present in the epithelium. The presence of these latter cells is noteworthy in that they are not a known feature of the epithelium of the vesicular gland of other species.