Abstract
In spite that these tubulo-alveolar ocular glands were described by Johann Jacob Harder 300 years ago, the precise and definitive functions of the rodent Harderian gland remain unknown. Several authors have suggested that they lubricate the eyeball or the nictitating membrane (Sakai, 1981) but in addition, modulation of pineal gland metabolism (Wetterberg et al., 1970a,b); protection of the cornea (Jost, 1974); thermoregulation (Thiessen, 1988) and the production of pheromones (Payne, 1977) have been also proposed as putative functions of these orbital structures. Although the Harderian glands have been traditionally considered as exocrine glands, in recent years we have been accumulating evidences suggesting a possible endocrine function. One of these evidences is the presence in the rodent Harderian glands of melatonin (Reiter et al., 1983; Hoffman et al., 1985), N-acetylserotonin (Pang et al., 1977; Menendez-Pelaez, 1990) and the main enzymes involved in indoleamine synthesis (Menendez-Pelaez et al., 1987a). The following brief report will describe the pineal-Harderian gland interactions and the morphological and physiological evidences suggesting an endocrine function of these ocular glands.
Published Version
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