The adaptive response of the salt glands of adult mallard ducks to a salt water regime: An ultrastructural and tracer study

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The salt glands of adult domestic mallards that had been maintained in three different physiological conditions were studied ultrastructurally. With adaptation to salt water conditions, the glands approximately doubled in size. This size increase appeared to result entirely from hypertrophy of the secretory cells which became a labyrinth of mitochondria filled basolateral interdigitations. The extent of the extracellular spaces and the complexity of the surface amplification was delineated by horseradish peroxidase and lanthanum salts. Tracer studies provided evidence that the junctional complexes may not always contain typical “tight junctions.” The ultrastructure of the gland is discussed in relation to the standing gradient osmotic flow hypothesis of Diamond.