Histochemical study on the apocrine sweat gland in the circumanal region of cattle

• Published in: Okajimas Folia Anatomica Japonica Vol. 37; no. 1; pp. 19 - 27
• Main Author: Ato, Norio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan Editorial Board of Okajimas Folia Anatomica Japonica 1961
• Subjects: Animals; Cattle - anatomy & histology; Old Medline; Skin - chemistry; Sweat Glands - chemistry; SKIN/chemistry; SWEAT GLANDS/chemistry; CATTLE/anatomy and histology
• ISSN: 0030-154X; 1881-1736
• DOI: 10.2535/ofaj1936.37.1_19

Histochemical investigation on the apocrine sweat gland in the circumanal region of the cattle was carried out employing allochrome staining, pyronine-methylgreen staining, toluidin blue staining at pH 2.5.4.0 and 5.6, and toluidin blue staining after the preliminary treatment with 1N hydrochloric acid and 1% periodic acid respectively. Stainabilities of both glandular cells and luminal contents were observed. 1) By mea n s of the above mentioned staining, any coarse granules that correspond to the so-called secretory granules were not recognized. 2) The luminal contents were PAS positive and they showed, metachromasia with toluidin blue staining and besides, this metachromasia was not diminished even by the preliminary treatment with iN hydrochloric acid. Accordingly, the luminal contents might be considered to contain mucopolysaccharide but no glycogen. Ribonucleic acid and hyaluronic acid were not demonstrated. 3) The cytoplasm of the glandular c e lls was pyroninophilic and it possibly contained RNA. Moreover, the apical cytoplasm showed a PAS positive reaction, and probably contained similar mucopolysaccharide to that in the luminal contents. However, clearly distinct metachromasia, as seen in the luminal contents, was not recognized in the apical cytoplasm with toluidin blue staining. 4) With toluidin blue staining followed by the preliminary treatment with 1% periodic acid, the stainability of the glandular cells intensified, and the apex of the secretory process showed purple red metachromasia, and this coloration was similar to that in the luminal contents.5) A few g l andular cells that were possibly provided with a good deal of mucopolysaccharide throughout the cytoplasm was encountered.