Histology and Histochemistry of the Duvernoy's Gland of the Brown Tree Snake Boiga irregularis (Colubridae)
Zalisko EJ and Kardong KV. 1992. Histology and Histochemistry of the Duvernoy's Gland of the Brown Tree Snake Boiga irregularis (Colubridae). Copeia. 1992(3):791-799
The brown tree snake (Boiga irregularis) is an opisthoglyphous colubrid snake indigenous to northern Australia, New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands. Its paired Duvernoy's gland, located lateral to the maxilla and overlapped along its ventral edge by the supralabial gland, is a branched tubular and compound exocrine gland made up of a vertical stack of mostly longitudinal lobules. Ducts within each lobule converge, forming common lobular ducts that empty into a central cistern, a central collecting area of the duct system within the hilus of the gland. From the central cistern, a single main duct carries secretion to enlarged posterior maxillary teeth. Storage area for the secretory product is limited. Histochemical tests of the secretory cells were negative for all lipid and carbohydrate stains (including periodic acid-Schiff) and positive for proteins, suggesting a glandular product that is primarily proteinaceous with few lipid or carbohydrate components. Histochemical tests of the duct epithelium indicate the production of mucins and nonsulfated mucopolysaccharides. The Duvernoy's gland of B. irregularis is histologically and anatomically distinct from a true venom gland.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Zalisko, Edward; Kardong, Kenneth
- Units
- WAPA
- Keywords
- Animal Studies, Brown Tree Snake (Boiga irregularis), Duvernoy's gland, Duvernoy's secretion