As recently as 1972 research on the submandibular duct reservoir was reported by Butcher (1972) using Long-Evans and wristar rats. The occurrence of the submandibular duct reservoir in other species of rodents has not been determined. The author has attempted to observe the occurrence of the submandibular duct reservoir in adult albino rats of the Sprague-Dawley strain as well as in mice and rabbits and to observe the morphodifferentiation of the submandibular gland, especially the submandibular duct reservoir in the rats. The whole submandibular and sublingual ducts associated with the glands and the sublingual caruncle were carefully excised under a stereomicroscope after perfusing the animal with 10% formalin solution. The submandibular and sublingual complexes were, in toto, post-fixed in Zenker's solution for 24 hours and sectioned serially. To observe the prenatal phase of the morphogenesis of the submandibular gland, serial sections of the head and neck at daily intervals from 14 days to 20 days in utero, were all fixed using Bouin's solution. The results have shown that in the serial sections of the glandular complexes of the adult rats, a diverticular enlargement of the submandibular duct near the sulbingual caruncle existed and was connected to the ordinary narrow excretory duct distal to the diverticular enlargement of the submandibular duct. The submandibular duct reservoir followed by the short terminal excretory duct opened into the oral cavity through the sublingual caruncle. The lining epithelium of the diverticular enlargement of the submandibular duct was the pseudostratified columnar type. No sublingual duct reservoir was found in the Sprague-Dawley strain rats that were investigated. In the mouse and the rabbit there was no submandibular duct reservoir found. The anlage of the submandibular gland was first observed in the 14 day old in utero specimens. In the 17 dey old in utero specimens, an apparent submandibular duct reservoir was present and the terminal buds (anlage of acini) were well differentiated. Secretory materials were seen in the lumina of the submandibular duct and in the terminal buds. These findings indicate that the secretion of the submandibular gland cannot enter the oral cavity until at least 16 days in utero.
Animal ; Mice ; Rabbits ; Rats/anatomy & histology* ; Submandibular Gland/anatomy & histology*

The occurrence of the submandibular duct reservoir was reported by Butcher (1972). Its form and functional volume (Schneyer, 1975) and the development of the submandibular complex (Kim, 1975) were studied. The shape of the cells in the epithelial lining of the reservoir had not been determined as yet. So via the techniques of histology and histochemical enzymatic activity, the epithelial lining and the function of the reservoir were investigated. The epithelial lining of the reservoir was not uniform in all regions. The proximal portion of the reservoir was lined by pseudostratified columnar epithelium and the distal portion was lined by stratified columnar or cuboidal epithelium. Acid phosphatase activity in the epithelial lining of the reservoir was observed as well as in the acini, granular convoluted duct and striated duct of the submandibular gland proper.
Acid Phosphatase/metabolism ; Animal ; Epithelial Cells ; Epithelium/enzymology ; Rats/anatomy & histology* ; Submandibular Gland/anatomy & histology* ; Submandibular Gland/cytology

BACKGROUNDTransplanting a vascularized autologous submandibular gland (SMG) is considered an effective method to treat severe keratoconjunctivitis sicca. But the operation may fail due to the anatomic variances in the blood vessels of SMG. The present study aimed to investigate the submandibular glands at the microanatomy level.

METHODSThe microanatomy of blood vessels including arteries and veins of submandibular gland was investigated using 30 adult corpses and 60 submandibular glands were anatomized under a surgical microscope. The lengths and diameters of the arterial and venous glandular branches were measured using sliding caliper.

RESULTSThe submandibular gland was mainly supplied by the facial artery and submental artery, partly by the lingual artery and external jugular artery. The venous drainage of the submandibualr gland occurred through the anterior facial vein, the venae comitantes of facial artery, the vein close to the Whaston's duct (the hilum vein), and seldom drained to external jugular vein and other veins.

CONCLUSIONSThe anatomy of SMG is a complicated structure. Determining the main blood vessels of the submandibular gland is very important to achieve a successful vascularized autologous SMG transplant.

Adult ; Arteries ; anatomy & histology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Submandibular Gland ; anatomy & histology ; blood supply ; Veins ; anatomy & histology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the feasibility and safety of intraoral submandibular gland excision.

METHODSAnalyze the relationship between the external maxillary artery and submandibular gland, and offer a reliable anatomical base for 10 cases of intraoral submandibular gland excision, including 8 cases of chronic sialadenitis, 1 case of pleomorphic adenoma and 1 case of cyst of submandibular gland.

RESULTSThe external maxillary artery went across the surface of gland submandibular, and its branches provided nutrition for the gland in most cases. The results of 10 cases intraoral submandibular gland excision were effective and satisfied, without major complications. The average time of operation was 50 minutes and the average hemorrhage of operation was 60 ml.

CONCLUSIONIntraoral submandibular gland excision is safe and feasible for chronic sialadenitis and cyst of submandibular gland and some of benign tumor submandibular gland as long as indications strictly controlled and the external maxillary artery well coped with.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Maxillary Artery ; surgery ; Middle Aged ; Sialadenitis ; surgery ; Submandibular Gland ; anatomy & histology ; surgery ; Submandibular Gland Diseases ; surgery ; Submandibular Gland Neoplasms ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDMiniature pig (minipig) is increasingly used as a large animal model for a variety of biomedical studies. Little information is available in the literature on anatomy, histology and sialograghy of the submandibular gland of the minipig. The purpose of this study was to characterize the morphology of a miniature pig's (minipig) submandibular gland as a large animal model for further biomedical studies.

METHODSFive minipigs were subjected to sialographic, anatomic, histologic, histochemical and ultrastructural evaluations for submandibular glands.

RESULTSSialograms showed a long, horizontal main excretory duct and a pear-shaped gland located inferoposterior to the angle of the mandible. The submandibular glands lied superficial to the suprahyoid, and infrahyoid muscle groups, and were covered by the inferior portion of the parotid gland. The submandibular glands were characterized by a mixed parenchyma of mucous and serous secretory acini. Alcian blue (AB) staining and periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) reactions demonstrated that minipig submandibular glands synthesized and secreted acid mucous substances by serous cells and polysaccharide, and neutral mucous substances, by mucous cells.

CONCLUSIONThe submandibular gland of the minipig is considered a useful large salivary gland animal model for biomedical studies.

Animals ; Female ; Histocytochemistry ; Submandibular Gland ; chemistry ; cytology ; physiology ; ultrastructure ; Swine ; Swine, Miniature ; anatomy & histology