Abstract
The nasal gland in the respiratory mucosa of guinea pig was studied by electron microscopy. The terminal portion of glands is composed of the secretory cells which are regarded as serous cells from the cytological point of view. The apical cytoplasm of these cells contains secretory vacuoles with watery appearance, but these vacuoles are greatly variable in number from cell to cell. The lateral surfaces of secretory cells are provided with elaborated cytoplasmic folds occurring mainly at the basal half of cell, by which adjacent cells are interdigitated. This structural feature of lateral surface, together with the watery appearance of secretory vacuoles in the apical cytoplasm, suggests that the secretory cells uptake a large amount of water or some electrolites from the interstitial tissue to secrete the watery products into the lumen. The nerve endings are frequently found embedded in the intercellular spaces between adjacent secretory cells of nasal gland. The nerve endings are presumed to be represented by a beaded swelling portion of axon, and contact directly with the lateral surface of secretory cells. The present study suggests that the secretion in nasal gland is more strongly regulated by the autonomic nerves than in other exocrine glands.
