Summary
Neural elements within the parenchyma of the sebaceous gland have not been reported previously. Nerve endings have been observed only in the connective tissue surrounding the gland or in close association with the undifferentiated basal cells.
In this study, electron microscopy revealed the possible presence of nerve endings (or terminal portions of neural elements) in the suprabasal level of functional sebaceous glands of pinnae of white rats. Morphologically, there are two distinct types of nerve endings. Type 1 is bordered by a membrane of relatively irregular contour and contains a single mitochondrion, various-sized vesicles, numerous microtubules, fine neurofilament-like fibrils, and occasional ribosome-like granules. Type II is also bordered by a membrane, but its contour was relatively smooth and rounded. Moreover, Type II contains many mitochondria, varying in size, density, and the arrangement of cristae. While ribosome-like granules are scattered throughout the structure in relative abundance, there are scarcely any fine neurofilament-like fibrils or microtubules. Whether these two structures are sensory or autonomic fibers could not be determined by electron microscopic examination.
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Hatta Dugan, K. Ultrastructural observation of possible nerve endings in rat sebaceous gland. Cell Tissue Res. 150, 545–552 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00225977
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00225977