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

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

No abstract available.
Animal ; Calcium-Binding Proteins/metabolism ; Feedback/physiology ; Ligases/metabolism ; Mice ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Salivary Ducts/physiology* ; Salivary Ducts/cytology ; Sodium/metabolism ; Sodium Channels/metabolism* ; Submandibular Gland/physiology* ; Submandibular Gland/cytology

No abstract available.
Animal ; Anions/metabolism ; Blotting, Western ; Chloride Channels/genetics* ; Chloride Channels/analysis* ; Gene Expression/physiology ; Lacrimal Apparatus/cytology ; Lacrimal Apparatus/chemistry* ; RNA, Messenger/analysis ; Rats ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Submandibular Gland/cytology ; Submandibular Gland/chemistry*