Preliminary Investigations on the Harderian Gland of the African Giant Rat (Cricetomys gambianus, Waterhouse, 1840)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Veterinary Anatomy, University of Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria

2 Department of Veterinary Physiology, University of Abuja, Federal Capital Terri- tory, Nigeria

3 Department of Veterinary Anatomy, University of Benin, Nigeria

4 Department of Veterinary Anatomy, University of Ibadan, Nigeria

Abstract

Abstract
Harderian gland (HG) is an orbital gland found in almost all vertebrae. Its function includes protection and lubri- cation of the corneal, site of immune responses, source of pheromones and lipid thermoregulation and also mela- tonin secretion and function. We de- scribed for the first time the HG of Af- rican giant rat (AGR), a nocturnal ro- dent belonging to the family Muridaeand order Rodentia and typical to the arid and temperate areas of Africa. Ten adult African giant rats weighing between 850g-1200g of both sexes were used. They were sacrificed and the gland harvested for gross observa- tions and sections were taken, fixed for routine histological examination.
Grossly, the AGR HG appeared lobu- lated and lobated. It weighs 1±0.08g with length and width of 2.9±0.2cm and 1.1±0.7cm respectively. Histologi- cally, the AGR HG showed extensive pleomorphism. The epithelium is sim- ple columnar with rounded to oval nu- cleus. Interestingly, we showed that the HG of the African giant rat is binu- cleated. While the mean epithelial height is 129.98 ± 5.36μm, the mean luminal diameter and mean tubular diameter are 211.43 ± 13.98μm and 479.04 ± 17.03μm respectively. The mean nuclear diameters of the small and large sized nucleus are 24.97 ± 0.68μm and 17.78 ± 0.62μm. This study reports baseline research data on the anatomy of AGR’s HG and will have usefulness in theoretical and ex- perimental studies of its vision, helping in domestication of this rodent.

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