The harderian gland of the frog, Rana esculenta, during the annual cycle: histology, histochemistry and ultrastructure

The Harderian gland in Rana esculenta has been studied during the annual cycle at the histological, histochemical and ultrastructural levels. The Harderian gland has an acinar structure and is the only orbital gland in anuran amphibia. It develops at the medial corner of the orbit from the conjunctival epithelium at the premetamorphic stage. In the adult the glandular secretion reaches a maximum during the months of July and August, drops in September and resumes slowly from October onwards. The secretion is seromucoid and the secretory granules are released into the acinar lumen, mainly by exocytosis. Porphyrins were not detected. No sexual dimorphism was observed in the glandular cells. The resumption of secretory activity in October and the enhancement of secretion in May are marked by the appearance of "blue nuclei" (Mallory stain) in a relatively high percentage of glandular cells. This unusual blue colour, using the Mallory stain (by which nuclei stain red), disappears after digestion of paraffin sections with RNAase, but not with DNAase and trypsin. The blue staining may, therefore, indicate an increased amount of nuclear RNA. The Harderian gland in the frog most probably serves to lubricate and moisten the eye in the absence of the lacrimal gland. However, the gland may also represent an immunoactive organ owing to the presence of numerous mast cells and plasma cells in the interacinar spaces.