Minor salivary glands of man: enzyme and mucosubstance histochemical studies.

Abstract

Lower labial, buccal and sublingual glands have been examined. The lower labial glands contained a greater proportion of seromucous cells than the buccal and sublingual glands. In the latter glands there was a greater proportion of mucous cells that are stainable with the Alcian Blue critical electrolyte concentration technique with 0.2m MgCl2 and above than in the lower labial glands. Granules of acid phosphatase, β-glucuronidase and E600-resistant esterase reaction product, presumbly, representing lysosomal enzyme activity, were usually more prominent in seromucous than in mucous cells. Thiamine pyrophosphatase and inosine diphosphatase activities were demonstrated in a Golgi-like distribution, which was more prominent in mucous cells. Diffuse non-specific esterase, NADH-and NADPH- diaphorases and peroxidase activities were more prominent in seromucous cells. However, diffuse acid phosphatase activity was more prominent in mucous cells. Granules of β-glucuronidase, acid phosphatase and E600-resistant esterase reaction product were seen in ductal cells, and were often concentrated in the supranuclear region. Arylamidase activity was present lining the lumen of some ducts and acini.