Light Microscopic Studies on the Nictitans Glands of Dogs with Cherry Eye

Abstract

The present study conducted on nictitans glands of six adult dogs suffering from Cherry eye condition revealed that the capsule divided the parenchyma of the gland into lobes and lobules. The gland was tubulo-acinar type with predominance of serous acini. The cells were categorised into three types on the basis of structural morphology. The acini were having more distribution of acidic mucopolysaccharides than the neutral ones. In addition, the secretions were also positive for other moieties of carbohydrates. The parenchyma showed presence of lymphoid tissue, plasma cells and a few mast cells. The affected portion of the gland showed thickening of the capsule and its septae, atrophy and hypertrophy of the acini. The stratified squamous epithelium of third eyelid was hypertrophied and its cartilage was hyaline in nature. The gland also exhibited severe congestion and haemorrhages at few places.