THE POLL GLANDS OF THE DROMEDARY (CAMELUS-DROMEDARIUS) - ULTRASTRUCTURAL CHARACTERISTICS

The poll glands of the camel are tubuloalveolar glands. They consist o f lobules separated by interlobular connective tissue. Adrenergic axon s and blood vessels including fenestrated capillaries are present in t he intralobular connective tissue in close proximity to the secretory cells. The prominent features of the secretory cell cytoplasm are many mitochondria, smooth endoplasmic reticulum, and many vesicles in vari ous secretory stages. It is concluded that the secretory cells have ap ocrine as well as merocrine modes of secretion. The glands may have th e ability to uptake hormones and concentrate them. Additional work is needed before considering these glands as steroid-secreting glands.