lateral nasal gland

Any of the lateral nasal glands (the largest nasal secretory glands in rodents) which surround the maxillary sinus located in the lateral wall adjacent to each nasal passage and are characterized by cytologic features similar to those described for the major serous salivary glands; secretory contents of the LNG drain into the nasal vestibule; the LNG is a major site for the synthesis and secretion of odorant-binding proteins that serve as odorant carriers in nasal mucus; it also, synthesizes large amounts of immunoglobulin A, which is important for immune defense of the upper respiratory tract, and testosterone and salivary androgen-binding proteins, which are likely important in olfaction and reproductive behavior.