The Ultrastructure of Human Axillary Apocrine Glands After Epinephrine

Abstract

The ultrastructure of the secretory cell of human axillary glands has been described in detail by several authors. However, evidence about the mechanism of secretion in these glands remains largely theoretical. The present study was undertaken to determine whether pharmacologic stimulation would produce more precise information about this process. The results indicate that after epinephrine injection, the distribution, number, and morphology of cytoplasmic organelles do not change significantly. Apical cell membrane changes were seen most consistently, but not universally, at 4hr and 24hr after epinephrine injection. The dispersion of particles contained in the secretory granules was most clearly seen 10min and 4hr after injection and may occur in connection with the cytoplasmic filaments that are closely associated with the secretory granules. These filaments may play a major role in directing the activities of the secretory cells. Two discrete types of granules contain secretory particles: a third type of cytoplasmic inclusion is the initial formation of one type of secretory granule. Whereas mitochondria, which according to some authors are transformed into secretory granules, occasionally become enlarged when they occupy apical sites, no evidence of such secretory transformation was detected. These observation indicate that the mechanism of apocrine secretion is an extremely subtle process which can be clearly understand only with improved technology.