ON THE ORIGIN AND MORPHOLOGY OF MYOEPITHELIAL CELLS OF APOCRINE SWEAT GLANDS

[摘要] Transitional cells, intermediate in appearance* and position between myoepithelial cells and the basal cells of the duct, are described in apocrine sweat glands of the adult ear. Myoepithelial cells differ from the basal duct cells in being birefringent, showing a positive reaction for alkaline phosphatase, staining readily with iron-hematoxylin and being partially enveloped by intra-epithelial projections of the basement membrane. From this it is concluded that the basal cells of the duct and the myoepithelial cells are dissimilar in structure, and hence probably also in function. Preliminary results indicate that cell divisions are common among duct cells, but that myoepithelial cells may be incapable of mitosis. It is suggested that the occurrence of transitional cells may indicate that myoepithelial cells differentiate from duct cells even in the adult.