M. V. WALVEKAR, P. P. SARVALKAR AND L. P. BHOPALE
Abstract
The mouse submandibular gland is a rich source of various biologically active polypeptides. The polypeptides are also found in sublingual gland in smaller amount (Barka, 1980 and Sporn et. al., 1982). To elucidate the functional significance of sublingual gland in absence of submandibular gland we have sialoadenectomised (removal of submandibular gland) the female mice of 20 days old and maintained under normal conditions in the departmental animal house upto the age of three months. There after protein content, amylase activity and histological study was carried out from sublingual gland of both sialoadenectomised and normal mice. The protein content and amylase activity was increased significantly in sublingual gland of sialoadenectomised mice as compared to the sublingual gland of normal mice. While histological study showed increase in secretory granules and length of secretory ducts in sublingual gland of sialoadenectomised mice as compared to normal mice. In sialoadenectomised mice sublingual gland shows rich glycoproteins in acini when stained with AB pH 2.5, while the acini show less reactivity with AB pH 1 as compared to normal. Therefore the present data suggest that sublingual gland tries to compensate the functions of submandibular glands related to growth factors in absence of submandibular gland.