The changes of salivary gland after the ligation of the excretory duct in submandibular glands

Cha, Seung Man; Chung, In Kyo

Abstract

Obstructive adenitis of the salivary gland following salivary stone or infectious disease of the gland and surrounding tissues is a common disease. It is often difficult to decide whether to perform total excision of the gland or to consider conservative treatment. The present study was designed to investigate histological, histochemical changes of submandibular gland after ligating the excretory duct for identifying the results of gland duct obstruction. A group of 40 rat of Sprague-Dawley weighing about 200~220gm were used in the present study. 30 rats had ligation of the main excretory ducts of submandibular glands just at the exit from the glands. For controls, 10 rats had a sham operation without duct ligation. They were inducted into euthanagia state by intracardial Ketamine injection in 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42 days after the ligation. In each ligation period, 3 animals were used for ligation and one animal was for control. The submandibular glands were dissected out at sacrifice and stained with HandE, PAS, mucicarmine stain and histological examination were carried out under the light microscope. After examination and comparison of all specimens, the results were as follows: 1. In the features of H&E stain, acini disappeared by degrees after the ligation of the excretary duct and interstitial cells were displaced into fibrous connective tissue. Salivary gland had been atrophied with enlarging ducts and proliferating ductal cells. 2. Through total experimental period, a lot of vessels were observed and the atrophy of serous gland was severer than that of mucous gland. 3. The deep portion of submandibular glands showed severe degeneration rather than superficial portion of them after the ligation. 4. The changes which had enlarged ducts and proliferating ductal cells were observed in entire gland and more prominent in serous gland than mucous gland after the ligation. 5. Although PAS and mucicarmine reactions were decreased gradually after the ligation with the lapse of time, since 2 to 3 weeks they were strong positive reactions on entire gland, especially on duct-like structure. So, we can suggest that salivary gland will be atrophied but, survived acini will be redistributed around the ducts.