Morphology of the Harderian gland of some Australian geckos

Susan J Rehorek; Bruce T Firth; Mark N Hutchison

doi:10.1002/(SICI)1097-4687(199703)231:3<253::AID-JMOR4>3.0.CO;2-C

Morphology of the Harderian gland of some Australian geckos

J Morphol. 1997 Mar;231(3):253-259. doi: 10.1002/(SICI)1097-4687(199703)231:3<253::AID-JMOR4>3.0.CO;2-C.

Authors

Susan J Rehorek¹, Bruce T Firth¹, Mark N Hutchison²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Anatomy and Histology, University of Adelaide, Adelaide 5005, Australia.
² Herpetology Section, South Australian Museum, Adelaide 5000, Australia.

PMID: 29852647
DOI: 10.1002/(SICI)1097-4687(199703)231:3<253::AID-JMOR4>3.0.CO;2-C

Abstract

This study of the morphology, histology, histochemistry, and ultrastructure of the Harderian gland in Geckos (Squamata, Gekkota) revealed previously unreported variation. The gecko Harderian gland is unlike that of other squamates in that each cell of the secretory epithelium has both lipid and protein secretory granules. Lipid secretion has not been reported previously for the squamate Harderian gland. The structure of the protein granules resembles that described for a scincomorph lizard (Podarcis, Lacertidae). Differences between representatives of the subfamilies Gekkoninae and Diplodactylinae suggest possible phylogenetic constraints in the structure or function of Harderian glands within gekkotan lineages. The structural relationship between the Harderian gland and the lacrimal duct supports previous suggestions of a possible functional link between the Harderian gland and the vomeronasal organ. J Morphol 231:253-259, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.