Apocrine Gland

Apocrine Gland

1. release their products by “decapitation,”

   • process by which membrane-bound cytoplasm from the apical surface of the cells
     • buds off into the lumen of the duct and is secreted
       • entails membrane budding of the apical cytoplasm.

2. They are made up of 2 primary parts

   • coiled secretory structure
     • is made up of
       • a single layer of cuboidal cells
       • a single layer of columnar cells
   • accompanying straight duct

3. originate from the hair germ

   • generally enter the pilosebaceous follicle at its infundibulum

4. are a subtype of exocrine secretory glands

   • They are found in many locations
     • anogenital region
     • areolae
     • primarily in the axillae
     • periumbilical region
     • Eyelids
     • external auditory canals

5. The ductal portion is made up

   • a double layer of basophilic cells
     • with a periluminal eosinophilic cuticle

6. There are 2 main types of secretory glands

   • endocrine glands
   • exocrine glands
     • remain connected with the surface epithelium
       • secrete their products through ducts
     • They are subclassified
       • holocrine
       • as merocrine (or eccrine)
       • apocrine

7. nonfunctional before puberty

   • they grow
   • commence secretion.

8. believed to be an evolutionary remnant of an odorous organ of animals.

9. Tissue Preparation

   • can be obtained from patients with osmidrosis
     • the glands will be maintained in an active state
   • can be cut into small pieces
     • fixed with 70% ethanol for 12 hours at 4 C
       • embedded in paraffin
         • Staining
           • can be visualized with hematoxylin-eosin staining
             • reveal eosinophilic cytoplasm within the secretory cells of apocrine glands
           • Periodic Acid Schiff (PAS)
             • allows for visualization of diastase-resistant mitochondria-like granules within the secretory portion of the gland
               • also contain iron and can be visualized with acid-fast stains.

10. Microscopy

    • reveals the decapitation of the luminal portion of the secretory cells
      • the luminal portion of the cells is lined with microvilli

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