SUMMARY
The main objective of this study was to investigate
the morphological aspects of the development
of the Harderian gland (HG) in the female
guinea pig. A total number of thirty animals were
used and divided according to age into groups, five
animals each. Specimens were taken at the following
ages; birth, one week, two weeks, three weeks,
four weeks and two months postnatal. Histological,
histochemical and immunohistochemical techniques
were used. The gland was constituted of
secretory end pieces and a duct system formed of
intra- and extra-parenchymal ducts. At birth, the
female guinea pig HG was active in the secretion
of lipid and neutral mucin and the differentiation of
several populations of cells (light and dark) was
possible. However, its histological structure was
still incomplete. The lining cells revealed many free
ribosomes, a few and small organelles and large
irregularly shaped nuclei and numerous mitotic
figures. The secretory cells reached maturity by
the age of three weeks, but growth in size continued
up to the age of two months. They were light
or dark; the light cells presented three forms that
exhibited different morphological features. All
modes of secretion (apocrine, merocrine and holocrine)
were detected.