Abstract
The authors had made a histological and histochemical investigation on the polysaccharides in the von Ebner's glands of the Afghan pika, Ochotona rufescens rufescens. The results were as follows : 1. The acini of the von Ebner's gland in the pika were similar to those reported for the exocrine serous glands. An oval nucleus and flattened rough endoplasmic reticulum cisternae were located densely in the basal half of cell. The apical portion of the acinar cell was filled with homogeneous secretory granules. 2. The granules were observed to have a distinct limiting membrane and homogeneous contents. These were poor in mucosubstance (weakly positive to PA-TCH-SP staining). The duct cells contained secretory granules which contained a dense core within a lighter matrix and were intensely positive to PA-TCH-SP staining. 3. The acinar cells showed weak reactions to sialomucin and neutral mucopolysaccharide, but the reaction to sulfomucin was unrecognizable. 4. Several mucous cells were found among the von Ebner's glands. 5. The von Ebner's glands of the Pika had mucous substances. Therefore, these glands are the seromucous glands.
