Extraepithelial Glands—Mucous Glands

In light microscopy, the cytoplasm of mucous gland cells appears light. Frequently it is structure d like a honeycomb. The flattened nuclei are locate d in the basal cell space (see Figs. 130, 378). As in serous glands, cells from mucous glands produce many secretory granules, which will finally occupy the entire cell body. Electron microscopy shows different patterns of density for the mucus droplets. These droplets will fuse with each other,  especially in the apical cell region, and lose their cell membranes in the process. The mucous droplets are so densely packed that they will supplant other cell organelles and inclusions. Only small cytosol septa are left b e-tween the secretory granules. At the cell periphery is a narrow layer of cytoplasm, which contains the mitochondria, other cell organelles and, in the basal cell region, the flattened nucleus. This figure shows mucus droplets in submandibular gland cells. Neighboring cells interconnect via cell processes. The basal region contains myoepithelial 2 cells.  Mucins can be selectively stained using special staining procedures, e.g., Alcian blue staining or the PAS reaction.

1 Secretor y granules

2 Myoepithelial cell

3 Gland lumen

4 Intercellular space, can be recognized as cell border using light microscopy

Electron microscopy; magnification: × 7800

References

Kuehnel, W.(2003). Color Atlas of Cytology, Histology, and Microscopic Anatomy. 4^th edition . Institute of Anatomy Universitätzu Luebeck Luebeck, Germany . Thieme Stuttgar t · New York .