Histology of moose (Alces alces andersoni) interdigital glands and associated green hairs

Abstract

The interdigital glands of the moose (Alces alces andersoni) are distinguished from the neighboring skin by the lighter epidermis, green hairs, and huge sebaceous and sweat glands. In the glandular area is a shallow fore pocket and deep hind pocket in both sexes and all ages. Special 250 μm thick sections helped reveal the pilosebaceous–sweat gland unit in both the gland and general body surface. The secretory cycle of the apocrine cells and the cycle's relationship to the lipofuscin cycle are described. Macrophages ingest lipofuscin from moribund apocrine cells. The site of the dead apocrine cell is replaced by neighboring epithelial cells spreading out to fill the gap. The green hairs have a transmittance peak at 515 nm. The chemical nature of the coloring matter is unknown but is probably an organic compound covalently bonded to keratin. The green secretion of the sweat gland in some way dyes the hair. In both sexes the sebaceous gland volume of the gland increases at the rut.