Payne A P, McGadey J, Moore M H, Thompson G G
Biochem J. 1979 Mar 15;178(3):597-604. doi: 10.1042/bj1780597.
The Harderian gland, which is situated within the bony orbit, is usually thought of as a source of lubrication for the eye. However, recent studies have suggested links with reproductive function. In the male golden hamster, both gland histology and activity are known to be under hormonal influence, and the present experiment was undertaken to examine gland weight and activity (as measured by the production of porphyrins) over the oestrous cycle and during pregnancy and early lactation in the female hamster. Gland weight, the number of solid intraluminal porphyrin accretions, and concentrations of copro- and proto-porphyrin were all maximal on day 1 of the cycle (oestrous) and at their lowest on day 2 (or jointly on days 2 and 3), rising gradually thereafter. Porphyrin concentrations are considerably higher during pregnancy and early lactation than during the cycle, and the solid porphyrin accretions, although diminished in number, are larger. Although there is no indication of either the function or the physiological basis of these changes during the cycle or pregnancy, these findings do suggest that in the female golden hamster, as in the male, there is a link between Harderian gland activity and reproductive function.
哈德氏腺位于眼眶骨内，通常被认为是眼睛的润滑来源。然而，最近的研究表明它与生殖功能有关。在雄性金黄仓鼠中，已知腺体组织学和活性受激素影响，本实验旨在研究雌性仓鼠在发情周期、怀孕和早期哺乳期的腺体重量和活性（通过卟啉生成来衡量）。腺体重量、腔内固体卟啉沉积物数量以及粪卟啉和原卟啉浓度在周期第1天（发情期）均达到最大值，在第2天（或第2天和第3天共同）达到最低值，此后逐渐上升。怀孕和早期哺乳期的卟啉浓度比发情周期期间高得多，固体卟啉沉积物数量虽减少，但体积更大。尽管在发情周期或怀孕期间这些变化的功能或生理基础尚无迹象，但这些发现确实表明，在雌性金黄仓鼠中，与雄性一样，哈德氏腺活性与生殖功能之间存在联系。
