Journal of Morphological Sciences
http://www.jms.periodikos.com.br/article/587cb4577f8c9d0d058b4606
Journal of Morphological Sciences
Original Article

HARDERIAN GLAND OF WISTAR RATS REVISED AS A PROTOPORPHYRIN IX PRODUCER

Edmyr Rosa dos Reis; Ester Maria Danielli Nicola; Jorge Humberto Nicola

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Abstract

In 1694 Johann Jacob Harder described, for the first time, the harderian gland, located near the eye in the great majority of vertebrates, and regarded it as a lacrimal gland. This gland has multiple functions that vary according to the animal species. In the present work, we review the literature on the harderian gland of rats, focusing our study on the detection of great amounts of protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) produced by rodent glands. Protoporphyrin IX is a powerful photosensitizer that is widely used for photodynamic therapy (PDT). We also discuss the anatomic and the histological evidence for the presence of PpIX in the harderian gland of Wistar rats. Protoporphyrin IX has been detected in the lumen and in acinar cells of this gland, as confirmed by fluorescence microscopy. These findings together with numerous reports in the literature suggest that the harderian gland could be useful experimental model for studying the photodynamic process.

Keywords

Fluorescence, harderian gland, photodynamic properties, protoporphyrin IX, Wistar rat
587cb4577f8c9d0d058b4606 jms Articles
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J. Morphol. Sci.

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