HISTOLOGICAL AND HISTOCHEMICAL-CHARACTERI STICS OF THE GLANDULAE-PROFUNDAE PLICAE SEMILUNARES CONJUNCTIVAE AMONG SOME CARNIVORES

Research was carried out on samples of Harderian gland in wolf (Canis lupus lupus L.), fox (Vulpes vulpes L.), marten (Mustela marfes) and w ild cat (Felis silvestris) as well as on German shepherd (Canis famili aris L.). The gland has a lobular structure. The gland epithelium cell s are highly prismatic except in fox, where they are cubic. Strong vac uolization within gland cells is obvious in wolf, while in other anima ls only few cells show such an appearance of vacuoles. A high concentr ation of acid glycosaminoglycanes was observed in the Harderian gland cells of dog, wild cat ana marten, but in fox cells this concentration was low. The wolf's gland cells during the secretory phase manifest a high presence and those not secreting a moderate presence of acid gly cosaminoglycanes. The concentration of PAS-positive substances in glan d cells of all animals investigated was insignificant except in those for wolves where this concentration varied from moderate to strong. Di fferences in construction and concentration of the investigated substa nces in the Harderian gland may be due to the animal species, their wa ys of life, and their migration radius.