CAT CAUDAL GLAND IS HEPATOID

The cat supracaudal gland is usually considered as a conglomeration of massive sebaceous glands, although the author of the only detailed de scription of its structure stated that it is a hepatoid gland (HG) of lower order. Investigation of the supracaudal gland in adult cats of b oth sexes showed that it is a massive layer of HGs opening either into dilated follicles of coarse hairs or into large cisterns. These gland s possess all features specific for HGs: polyhedral cells, a network o f intercellular canaliculi, abundant cytoplasmic protein granules, rel ease of protein structures from the cells to adjacent canaliculi. The reasons for misinterpreting certain structural properties are discusse d. It was shown that the cat caudal gland is a typical ''embryonal'' H G previously described in dogs and certain hollow-homed ruminants. The y secrete protein and hydrophobic lipids, have wide excretory ducts, a re connected with coarse hairs, are devoid of cysts, and have no sexua l dimorphism. Formation of cisterns, special secretion receptacles of the cat supracaudal gland, was monitored. It begins with stagnation of the lipid-protein secretion in the hair follicle and progresses until transformation of the whole glandular robe to the cistern and dissolv ing of the hair shaft in it.