Preliminary Investigations on the Harderian Gland of the African Giant Rat (Cricetomys gambianus, Waterhouse, 1840)

Harderian gland (HG) is an orbital gland found in almost all vertebrae. Its function includes protection and lubri- cation of the corneal, site of immune responses, source of pheromones and lipid thermoregulation and also mela- tonin secretion and function. We de- scribed for the first time the HG of Af- rican giant rat (AGR), a nocturnal ro- dent belonging to the family