OBJECTIVETo investigate the injury stress responses caused by ischemia reperfusion and its effects on the salivary secretory function of rat submandibular glands.

METHODSAn in situ ischemia reperfusion experimental model of rat submandibular glands was developed. The rat submandibular glands were subjected to 90 min of ischemia without denervation followed by reperfusion for 1, 12, 24, and 72 h. Salivary secretion, histological changes, reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, and cellular apoptosis of the involved submandibular glands were detected after reperfusion.

RESULTSThe secretory function of the glands decreased at 1 and 12 h, and the saliva secretion gradually had the same value as that of the control sample 72 h after reperfusion. Increasing inflammatory cells infiltration, cellular atrophy, and tissue edema were observed especially after reperfusion for 12 h. The level of ROS and the number of apoptotic cells exhibited the same tendency, and higher ROS levels and more apoptosis cells 1 and 12 h after reperfusion were observed.

CONCLUSIONOur study suggests that ischemia reperfusion can cause a series of injury stress responses in submandibular glands, which might have an important function in the early phase dysfunction of transplanted submandibular glands.