Apocrine Sweat Glands

Apocrine sweat glands are typically larger and more productive than eccrine glands. They are characterized by a simple cuboidal epithelium and widely dilated lumen that stores the secretory product. Secretion from apocrine glands contains protein, lipid, carbohydrate, ammonium and other organic compounds. The ducts of the glands empty into an adjacent hair follicle. The bleb on the apical surface of the secretory cells suggested that the cell underwent apocrine secretion, but recent electron micrographs indicate that the cells use merocrine secretion.