Tandler B, Nagato T, Phillips C J
Department of Oral Anatomy II, Kyushu Dental College, Kitakyushu, Japan.
Anat Rec. 1997 Nov;249(3):349-58. doi: 10.1002/(SICI)1097-0185(199711)249:3<349::AID-AR5>3.0.CO;2-P.
Hart's little fruit bat, Enchisthenes hartii, is uncommon and, although it has been the subject of recent molecular genetic studies, is little known biologically. Because chiropteran salivary glands vary interspecifically in ways that reflect evolutionary history and ecology, we examined the parotid gland in E. hartii to ascertain the extent to which it resembles homologous glands in species to which this bat presumably is related.
The parotid glands were prepared for electron microscopic examination by conventional means.
The parotid gland of E. hartii is structurally unique among all previously studied species of bats (> 230 species examined) and other mammals. In contrast to the same gland in other mammals, the parotid gland in E. hartii lacks secretory endpieces. In their place, there is a type of striated duct. Thus, in this species single secretory elements consist of (proceeding in the direction of salivary flow): striated duct--intercalated duct--and a conventionally located striated duct. The proximal ducts possess microvillus-lined intercellular canaliculi, whereas the walls of the distal ducts include occasional dark cells. Some small serous-like granules may be present in the intercalated duct cells.
The function(s) and biological role of the unique parotid gland in E. hartii are unknown. Nevertheless, the presence of two sets of striated ducts provides two separate glandular components seemingly capable of electrolyte transport. This might be of adaptive significance in enabling this species to make use of tropical nutrient resources that otherwise would be unavailable. The uniqueness of its parotid glands lends support to the current hypothesis that E. hartii should be classified as a monotypic genus rather than as a species of Artibeus, whose members it resembles morphometrically.
哈特氏小果蝠（Enchisthenes hartii）较为罕见，尽管它是近期分子遗传学研究的对象，但在生物学方面却鲜为人知。由于翼手类动物的唾液腺在种间存在差异，这种差异反映了进化历史和生态特征，我们对哈特氏小果蝠的腮腺进行了研究，以确定其与该蝙蝠可能相关的物种中同源腺体的相似程度。
采用常规方法制备腮腺用于电子显微镜检查。
哈特氏小果蝠的腮腺在所有先前研究过的蝙蝠物种（>230种）和其他哺乳动物中结构独特。与其他哺乳动物的同一腺体不同，哈特氏小果蝠的腮腺缺乏分泌末端。取而代之的是一种纹状管。因此，在该物种中，单个分泌元件由（沿唾液流动方向）：纹状管——闰管——以及常规位置的纹状管组成。近端导管具有内衬微绒毛的细胞间小管，而远端导管壁偶尔包含暗细胞。闰管细胞中可能存在一些小的浆液样颗粒。
哈特氏小果蝠独特腮腺的功能和生物学作用尚不清楚。然而，两组纹状管的存在提供了两个看似能够进行电解质转运的独立腺性成分。这可能在使该物种能够利用原本无法获得的热带营养资源方面具有适应性意义。其腮腺的独特性支持了当前的假说，即哈特氏小果蝠应被归类为单型属，而不是形态测量上与其相似的叶口蝠属的一个物种。
