Morphology and histochemistry of the mandibular gland of the Australian brush-tail possum Trichosurus vulpecula (Marsupialia).

A histological, ultrastructural and histochemical study of the mandibular gland of the Australian possum Trichosurus vulpecula revealed essentially similar features as those described earlier for the mandibular gland of the taxonomically relatively unrelated American opossum Didelphis. The secretory endpieces consist of a branched tubular part, composed of serous cells whose secretion granules contain neutral glycoproteins, and terminal acini, consisting of seromucous cells containing small amounts of sialomucins. Relatively short intercalated ducts lead to striated ducts of variable ultrastructural appearance. The striated ducts run in bundles in the center of each sublobule of the gland. The possible functional significance of the abundance and variability in ultrastructure of the striated ducts is discussed.