Abstract
The secretory function in an acinic cell tumor arising in buccal minor salivary gland was examined ultrastructurally and cytochemically by means of tannic acid uranyl acetate (TAUA) method, periodic acid-methenamic silver (PA-MS) reaction, thiamine pyrophosphatase (TPPase) reaction and acid phosphatase (AcPase) reaction.The tumor was composed mainly of secretory cells which revealed morphological similarity to serous cells seen in normal parotid and submaxillary glands, and undifferentiated cells probably derived from the reserve cells of the intercalated duct. Secretory cells showed also histochemical resemblance, since it was proved by periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) reaction and alcian blue staining that they contained neutral glycoproteins in their cytoplasmas.Compared to normal serous cells, secretory cells neither formed definitive lumina, nor showed apico-basal polarity. The Golgi complexes remained well-developed in the secretory cells and displayed an ultrastructure similar to that of normal serous cells. Within the secretory cells, TA-UA strongly stained Golgi stacks, the periphery of condensing vacuoles, matured secretory granules and luminal cavity. PA-MS reaction showed a stainability similar to that of TA-UA method. TPPase activity was localized in the Golgi stacks. AcPase reaction was detected in the Golgi stacks, lysosomes and secretory granules. Acpase activity within the secretory granules varied from scant to rather intense.These data may sugest that the complex carbohydrates synthesized in the Golgi stacks directly reaches the condensing vacuoles. The pathway of intercellular transport of carbohydrates appeared to be quite similar to that of some excretory cell types. On the other hand, the increase of lysosomal enzyme within the secretory granules may be presumably one of the characteristic findings in this secreting tumor.
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