 Reference Base  Epidermal structures in a rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum) |
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| Location: |
World |
| Subject: |
Anatomy - Glands |
| Species: |
White Rhino |
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Ceratotherium simum. Most unexpected, however, was the finding of large apocrine sweat glands, characterized by an abundance of relatively large, ectodermally developed myoepithelial cells, an anatomical arrangement clearly subserving the rapid and copious discharge of sweat.
The obtrusively large apocrine sweat glands are not particularly numerous, although estimation of their incidence is precluded by the thickness of the section. Each gland surrounds, in open basket fashion, the base of a hair follicle and appears to be supplied by an independent arteriole: its spiral duct is fairly capacious in its intra-dermal course, but narrows perceptibly in its intra-epidermal course. A striking feature of the glands and ducts is the association therewith of large and numerous ectodermally developed myoepithelial cells: these lie between the secretory cells and the basement membrane of the glands and are disposed helicoidally around the ducts.
These distinctive apocrine sweat glands seem to have escaped previous notice in Ceratotherium and it is not known whether they occur in other rhinoceros species.
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