Abstract:

Objective   To investigate the histological features of sweat glands and sebaceous glands in Qinghai healthy adult yak. Methods  The histological structures of sweat glands and sebaceous glands in the back, ribs and abdomen of 10 healthy adult yaks were observed and analyzed by HE, periodic acid Schiff（PAS）and Alcian blue periodic acid Schiff（AB-PAS）staining method. Results  The sweat glands of Qinghai adult yak were single tubular-shaped glands, which belonged to the apocrine glands. The cytoplasm of the gland cells contained glycogen. The secretions of sweat glands were acidic and neutral mixtures. Sebaceous glands were botryoid, multilobular, branched acinar glands, which belonged to the holocrine glands. Its secretions were neutral and the cytoplasm of gland cells contained a small amount of glycogen. The density, diameter, length and volume of sweat glands were decreased from the back to the abdomen, but the depth of the skin surface was increased, and the difference was significant (P<0.05). The density, diameter, length and depth of the sebaceous glands were decreased from the back to the abdomen. There was a significant difference between body regions (P<0.05). Conclusion  The morphological structures of sweat glands and sebaceous glands in different body regions of Qinghai adult yak are similar, but its density, size and depth are significantly different, and there is a gradual trend from the back to the abdomen. Compared with other cattles, Qinghai adult yaks have a high density of sweat glands and sebaceous glands, but the function of the glands of Qinghai adult yaks is more developed, which may be related to its adaptation to the plateau alpine environment.

Key words: Sweat gland, Sebaceous gland, Histology, Periodic acid Schiff staining, Alcian blue periodic acid Schiff staining, Adult yak