Serous cells in the parotid glands of two species of tamarins: polarized secretory granules.

The parotid glands of two species of tamarins were examined by electron microscopy. Endpiece cells are typical in appearance, with an extensive rough endoplasmic reticulum, prominent Golgi apparatuses, and numerous serous granules. In the saddleback tamarin, the secretory granules contain a dense spherule pressed against the inner aspect of the limiting membrane, leading to a surface bulge. During the course of merocrine secretion (a form of exocytosis), such morphologically polarized granules approach the luminal plasma membranes with the bulge in the vanguard. It is these protuberances that fuse with the plasmalemma. In contrast, although serous granules in the cotton top tamarin contain a spherule, they lack surface bulges and their docking on luminal membranes seems to be a random event with respect to their surface morphology. Moreover, certain other types of cells in a taxonomically wide spectrum of species have granules with a less obvious structural polarity, as well as cells whose granules lack morphological polarity but have a functional polarity that comes into play during exocytosis of such secretory granules.