The external orbital gland of the albino rat exhibits both sexual dimorphism and histological age changes. In males, many cells attain a remarkable degree of polyploidy and an increase of polyploid cell number constitutes the major age change until young adulthood. The acini of young adults have a small lumen and are composed of tall serous cells. Subsequently, many acini acquire a larger lumen with an irregular outline while numerous vacuoles accumulate throughout the secretory cells. At the same time, vesicular acini with a large lumen surrounded by pale-staining low cuboidal diploid cells begin to appear and their number increases throughout old age. The fine structure of external orbital glands from both sexes has been explored and in considering acinar cells from males, emphasis was given to the form of the Golgi membranes and to nuclear infoldings of cytoplasmic constituents.
