Minor Glands Research Articles

Salivary gland function and changes in patients with oral lichen planus.

Saliva analysis, sialography and histopathologic examination of labial salivary glands were performed on patients with oral lichen planus. Diseases connected with salivary gland function were also recorded. Saliva analysis regarding secretion rate, pH and buffer capacity in unstimulated and stimulated saliva was performed on 39 patients. 87% of the patients exhibited a low or very low unstimulated secretion rate, the mean value being 0.14 ml/min. The rate of stimulated saliva, pH and buffer capacity did not deviate from normal reference values. Sialographic examination was performed on 18 patients, corresponding to 36 major salivary glands. Radiologic changes were seen in 89% of the patients. Histopathologic examination was performed on 15 patients. Lymphocytic infiltration, acinar atrophy, fibrosis, fatty degeneration or ductal changes were observed in the minor glands of all patients. Different degrees of acinar atrophy were present in 93% of the patients. Lymphocytic infiltration was seen in 12 patients (80%) of whom three exhibited focal accumulation as in Sjögren's syndrome. Since decreased salivary secretion and symptoms of joint diseases and keratoconjunctivitis sicca were frequently present, over a third of the patients showed clinical signs comparable to those of Sjögren's syndrome. A high frequency of gastrointestinal and endocrine diseases was also recorded, which suggests that a general exo and endocrine influence may be present in patients with oral lichen planus.

Distribution of epithelial membrane antigen in benign and malignant lesions of the salivary glands

An antiserum against epithelial membrane antigen has been used to stain a variety of lesions arising in the salivary glands. In normal major and minor glands staining was localised to the ductal systems. There was no evidence of myoepithelial cell staining. The mucous elements of the submandibular and sublingual glands were negative, but in the mucous elements of the minor glands there was focal cytoplasmic positivity. There was no cytoplasmic staining of serous elements in major or minor salivary glands. In pleomorphic adenomas the luminal membrane of ductal elements was strongly positive, with focal cytoplasmic positivity in some myxoid areas. In mucoepidermoid tumours both adjacent cell membranes and cytoplasm were strongly positive. The ductal structure of adenoid cystic carcinomas were clearly delineated while the pseudoducts produced by enclosed areas of stroma were negative. All mesenchymally derived tumours were negative and a tumour previously considered as a chondroma was strongly positive. The results are discussed in relation to phenotypic heterogeneity and the histogenesis of salivary gland tumours.

Monomorphic adenomas of the major and minor salivary glands: Report of twenty-one cases and review of the literature

Monomorphic adenomas are benign salivary gland tumors that have a predilection for development in the upper lip and parotid gland. Typically, patients are older persons (mean age, 61 years), but a broad age range (32 to 87 years) has been reported in the literature. Adequate treatment consists of superficial or total parotidectomy (depending on extent and location of the tumor) for parotid lesions and excision with a limited border of normal tissue for minor gland tumors. Uniform cellularity, lack of myxoid or chondroid features, and a tendency for multicentric origin are features which separate these tumors from pleomorphic adenomas. Monomorphic adenomas have been mistakenly diagnosed and treated as adenoid cystic carcinomas. Close attention to cytologic detail, histomorphology, and growth pattern at the periphery are important in separating these tumors.

Structure and carbohydrate histochemistry of the minor salivary glands of the Japanese macaque (Macaca fuscata yakui).

Structural and carbohydrate histochemicall investigations were made of the minor salivary gands of the Japanese macaque, and the following conclusions were drawn.1. Both the minor sublingual glands and retromolar glands represent small glands having their own excretory ducts which are located in the indicated regions.2. The mucous cells in the minor sublingual glands and retromolar glands predominantly surpass the serous cells in number.3. The Japanese macaque has no anterior lingual glands.4. The glandular cells in the minor salivary glands contain no glycogen.5. The mucous cells contain neutral, weak and strong acid mucopolysaccharides, and reactions to the strong mucopolysaccharide are distinctly demonstrated.6. Some mucous glands neighboring the von Ebner's glands contain no strong acid mucopolysaccharide, and nothing else except such a kind of mucous glands was found.7. The reactions to the adove-mentioned mucosubstances in the serous cells are limited to the granules. It is presumed therefore that quantity of the same substance, especially the strong acid mucopolysaccharide in the mucous cells, is small.8. Since the so-called serous cells contain three kinds of mucopolysaccharides, they should be termed seromucous cells.9. von Ebner's glands also cotain three kinds of mucopolysaccharides. They are thus seromucous glands, but strongly surpass the common seromucous glands in the quantity of the same mucosubstances.10. The mucous components in the minor salivary glands of the Japanese macaque predominantly surpass the serous ones in quantity.

Basal cell adenomas of the minor salivary glands. A clinicopathologic study of seventeen new cases and a review of the literature.

The basal cell adenoma (BCA) is a benign monomorphic salivary gland tumor. Those of minor gland origin tend to occur within or adjacent to the upper lip (80 percent). The BCA is an encapsulated, slow-growing lesion which most commonly affects older persons. Several different histologic patterns can be noted, and often a combination of these variations is present within the same tumor. Simple surgical excision appears to be adequate treatment.

Factors determining the passage of drugs from blood into saliva.

1. Following single oral dosing of ampicillin, cephalexin, tetracycline, erythromycin estolate, clindamycin and rifampicin to six normal volunteers, antibacterial activity was measured at 1, 3 and 6 h in serum, gingival fluid and minor gland saliva from all subjects and in parotid and submandiabular saliva from three. 2. pH values of all gingival fluid and saliva specimens were noted. 3. Partition coefficients between n-octanol and water were measured for erythromycin, clindamycin and rifampicin. Published data were used for ampicillin, cephalexin and tetracycline. 4. All antibiotics, but particularly rifampicin, were detected in gingival fluid. Only rifampicin and to a lesser degree, clindamycin were present in the other salivary constituents. 5. In studies of secretion of drugs in saliva, both the physico-chemical characteristics of the drugs and the physiological differences between individual salivary components should be considered. 6. Parotid saliva samples are likely to be of greatest value.

Malignant Disease of the Minor Oral Salivary Glands

Malignant Disease of the Minor Oral Salivary Glands

Streptococcus mutans dextransucrase: stimulation by phospholipids from human sera and oral fluids

Serum, gingival crevicular fluid, and parotid, submandibular, and labial minor gland saliva from four individuals stimulated glucan formation from sucrose by the Streptococcus mutans strain 6715 dextransucrase (EC 2.4.1.5). At final dilutions of 1:10 all of the fluids stimulated crude enzyme preparations approximately 1.8-fold. The fluids stimulated the purified water-insoluble glucan-synthesizing form of the dextransucrase approximately 3.2-fold and the water-soluble glucan-producing form of the enzyme approximately 2.4-fold. The fluids all contained concentrations of stimulatory material that could be reduced to undetectable levels only after dilutions of greater than 1:1,000. The increased rates of glucan formation caused by the fluids and dextran were additive, indicating that stimulation by the fluids was primarily due to interactions with entities other than glucan primer molecules. In contrast, the elevated levels of glucan formation in the presence of the fluids was not further enhanced by the addition of lysophosphatidylcholine. Lysophosphatidylcholine purified from parotid and submandibular saliva by solvent extraction and thin-layer chromatography stimulated the dextransucrase as effectively as egg yolk lysophosphatidylcholine. Thus, phospholipids normally found in human oral fluids can enhance the activity of an enzyme believed to be directly associated with the cariogenic potential of S. mutans.

Isotrinervi-2β-ol. Structural isomers in the defense secretions of allopatric populations of the termiteTrinervitermes gratiosus

The defense secretions of 3 allopatric populations of the nasute termiteTrinervitermes gratiosus were analyzed. One population afforded a new trinervitene, isotrinervi-2β-ol, a missing link in the hypothetical biosynthesis of the trinervitenes. Populations could be readily distinguished on the basis of the chromatographic profiles of their major and minor soldier frontal gland secretions.

Dimensions, Birefringences, and Force-Elongation Behavior of Major and Minor Ampullate Silk Fibers from Orb-Web-Spinning Spiders—The Effects of Wetting on these Properties

The effects of wetting by water were determined on the dimensions, birefringences, and force-elongation behavior of major and minor ampullate silk fibers from Araneus diadematus Clerck, and major only from Araneus sericatus Clerck and Araneus gemma (McCook) (all family Araneidae). The values obtained at room conditions (RC), in the wetted, restrained (WR) and wetted, axially unrestrained (WU) states, the ratios of these, between states, are reported upon. The unexpected supercontraction of major ampullate fibers, WU, is contrasted with the stabile behavior of those from the minor ampullate gland systems. When dried from the WR state, both types appear to recover their RC properties. But when dried slack from the WU state, the major ampullate fibers undergo the “drawing” phenomenon typical of many man-made protofibers. The techniques required in order to secure data on these fragile (diameters, 0.6–6.0 μm) fibers, are described in some detail.

Some chemical characteristics of human minor salivary gland secretions.

The minor salivary glands contribute to the composition of whole saliva, but little information has been available about their chemical constituents. Pilocarpine-stimulated labial and palatine secretion from 4 human subjects was investigated by paper and disc electrophoresis, immunochemical analysis, and for content of carbohydrates, amino acids, lipids, hexuronic acids and sulphate. No significant differences were noted between the labial and palatine secretions by any of the methods employed. The minor gland secretions appeared to consist mainly of mucosubstances, possibly with blood group specificity. In addition, three water-soluble components with the characteristics of albumin, alpha-amylase and secretory IgA were seen. The minor gland secretions had an amino acid profile different from those of the major salivary glands and contained higher proportions of carbohydrate. Only one lipid component, with the characteristics of a polar lipid, was seen. Hexuronic acids were not detected in either secretion, whereas both contained sulphate. It would appear that the minor mucous glands contribute to the content of mucosubstances in whole saliva, whereas their content of water-soluble material is negligible in this respect.

The contribution of the minor mucous glands to the concentrations of blood group specific substances, carbohydrates and proteins in human mixed saliva

Human mixed saliva and secretions from the labial, palatine, parotid, submandibular and combined sublingual-submandibular glands were collected after pilocarpine stimulation from five subjects with different blood groups. The protein concentration of the minor gland secretions was in the same order of magnitude as in the other samples tested. The secretions of minor glands had high concentrations of total carbohydrate and fucose, but their relative contribution to mixed saliva could not be assessed because secretions of major glands had concentrations in the same range as mixed saliva. The secretions of minor glands had high concentrations of substances with blood-group specificity (A, B, Le a, Le b) and virus-haemagglutination inhibition activity. They appeared to contribute as much as the combined major gland secretions to the content of these substances in mixed saliva. The distribution of these substances indicated that different regions of the oral cavity may be exposed to fluids with different chemical characteristics.

Histochemical and biochemical properties of the labial and palatine glands and their secretions in theMacaca irusandCercopithecus aethiopsmonkeys

The increasing use of non-human primates in experimental studies in dentistry demands detailed knowledge of their basic oral biology. The labial and palatine glands and their secretory products were compared in two commonly used monkey species. The mucous cells of both gland types appeared to elaborate sulphated muco-substances and the serous demilunes of the labial glands neutral mucosubstances. The secretions of these glands, as obtained by in vitro cultivation of glandular tissue were subjected to isoelectric fractionation. The labial and palatine secretions of the C. aethiops contained an acidic component which exhibited the viscous properties of the original secretions, showed incorporation of 35SO4 and had high titres of virus-haemagglutination inhibition activity. A similar component has been found in M. irus labial and palatine secretions. The two monkey species were similar in that the labial gland secretions of both contained small amounts of lysozyme activity, which the palatine gland secretions did not. They differed in that alpha-amylase activity was present in the labial and palatine secretions of the C. aethiops, which corresponds to the human situation. The minor glands of the M. irus did not show traces of alpha-amylase activity. The distribution of several chemical characteristics of the salivary gland secretions of both monkey species indicated that neither of them were identical to man, even though a general similarity was evident.

In vitro production of sulphated mucosubstances by the labial and palatine glands of the monkey Macaca irus

Radioactively labelled (Na 2 35SO 4 and 3H-lysine) secretory products of the minor mucous glands were obtained by in vitro cultivation of glandular tissue. Isoelectric fractionation of the culture media on polytetrafluoroethylene-coated columns indicated that sulphated mucosubstances with virus-haemagglutination inhibition activity focused at pH < 3. Glucuronic acid was not detected in these fractions. A component of pI 4.7, incorporated lysine but not sulphate. In the neutral and alkaline part of the gradient no incorporation of radioactivity was found. The electrofocusing pattern of the secretory products of the labial and palatine glands was less complex than those previously reported from the major salivary glands. It may be concluded that the minor mucous glands, together with the major sublingual gland, are a main source of sulphated mucosubstances in mixed saliva.

The relative contributions of different salivary glands to the blood group activity of whole saliva in humans.

Abstract. A quantitative haemagglutination‐inhibition method suitable for estimation of the concentration of blood group substance (BGS) A in saliva has been developed based on the quantitative haemagglutination method of Dybkjaer (1966). The coefficient of variation for estimation of BGS concentration in a given sample of saliva varied from 2 to 6%. The technique was used to quantitate the secretion of BGS A in different types of saliva from 12 young adult secretors. Sublingual saliva and secretions from the minor mucous glands (MMG) contained significantly more BGS (p&lt;0.01) than did whole or submandibular saliva whilst parotid saliva contained negligible BGS. The sublingual and MMG secretions appear to contribute about 70% of the BGS in whole saliva, the remainder coming from submandibular saliva. Because different saliva collection conditions may result in different proportional contributions from the various salivary glands, quantitative studies on secretion of BGS in whole saliva are difficult to interpret and submandibular saliva would seem the secretion of choice for population and family studies.

Phéromones agrégeant les ouvrières de Myrmica rubra

The workers of Myrmica rubra aggregate around a source of one of their secretions, which can be called ‘alarm pheromone’, and also around workers of Lasius flavus. The mechanism of these aggregations differ. Both L. flavus workers and a solution in liquid paraffin of 3-octanol, one of the mandibular gland compounds, act as an arrestant for the workers of M. rubra. Both Dufour's gland secretion and a source of 3-octanone, the major compound of the mandibular gland secretion, are true attractants. The poison gland secretion, a mixture of 3-octanone and 3-octanol in liquid paraffin and a solution in liquid paraffin of 3-nonanone, a minor mandibular gland compound, all induce klinokinesis. The secretion of the mandibular glands and the secretion of the venom apparatus both cause positive klinokinesis and taxis. These locomotory reactions increase the probability that an object, marked by nest mates with these secretions, will be detected by several workers. When presented alone, 3-octanone is the only attractive compound in the mandibular gland secretion. However, a mixture of 3-octanone and 3-octanol (15 per cent of 3-octanol in the vapour phase) is detected more easily by the ants. The diffusion coefficients of the two compounds are different, and a mixture of these substances creates not only a quantitative but also a qualitative odour gradient. This may explain the synergy of the mixture.

The contribution of oral minor mucous gland secretions to the volume of whole saliva in man

To determine the contribution of minor mucous gland secretions to total saliva by a direct method, flow rates of both unstimulated and sour lemon drop (SLD)-stimulated saliva were initially determined in 15 subjects. The right and left lingual nerves were then anaesthetized to halt submandibular and sublingual secretion, and both parotid ducts were cannulated. The only remaining saliva in the mouth was that secreted by minor salivary glands. Unstimulated and SLD-stimulated minor mucous gland secretions were then collected and the median percentage contributions to whole saliva were calculated to be 8 and 7 per cent, respectively. Comparable results were obtained on 3 subjects using an indirect method similar to that of Schneyer (1956). With the left parotid duct cannulated, subjects maintained a constant, SLD-stimulated, left parotid flow rate of 1 ml/min and the remaining mixed saliva was collected to determine its flow rate. The right parotid and the submandibular and sublingual glands were then also cannulated and the flow rate from these glands determined whilst that from the left parotid was maintained at 1 ml/min. The contribution from minor mucous glands was the difference between the flow rate of mixed saliva and the combined flow rate from the right parotid, submandibular and sublingual glands.

Glycoprotein Heterogeneity in Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma: A Histochemical Evaluation

Seventeen cases of minor gland mucoepidermoid carcinoma were evaluated histochemically in relation to histologic grade of malignancy and glandular site of origin. Tumor mucous cells do not yield distinct, monospecific staining characteristics and thus histochemical evaluation is of no prognostic significance for assessing grade of malignancy. Additionally, staining by tumor mucous cells does not compare nor correlate with staining characteristics of the glandular site of origin. Mucoepidermoid carcinoma is capable of synthesizing a heterogeneous population of tumor mucins despite variations in grade of malignancy as it pertains to histodifferentiation.

Salivary gland lesions in children. A survey of 430 cases.

An analysis of all salivary gland lesions accessioned at the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP) reveals that of the total of 9,993 cases affecting both the major and minor glands, 430 (4.3%) occurred in pediatric patients, i.e., those under 15 years of age. A review of these pediatric cases revealed that most of the lesions were non-neoplastic (262 cases). The remaining 168 cases were classified as tumors of varying types (including hamartomas). There were 114 in the benign category and 54 malignant tumors. Of the total number of salivary gland tumors accessioned by the AFIP, the tumors in children represented 1.3% of the benign and 3% of the malignant tumors, respectively. Mixed tumor (pleomorphic adenoma) was the most frequent benign tumor. Mucoepidermoid carcinoma was the most frequent of the primary malignant tumors. Although follow-up information was too fragmentary for valid analysis, there was little evidence to support marked differences in the behavior of pediatric salivary tumors from those occurring in the general population.

Histological, histochemical and electron microscopic studies on the salivary glands in man and many kinds of animals

There are few histochemical investigations on the inorganic substances in the salivary glands.Therefore, the author investigated K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, Zn and P in the same organs of some kinds of animals. The materials are as follows. The parotid and sudmandibular glands: Japanese monkey, crab-eating monkey, dog, cat, horse, rabbit and rat. The sublingual glands: Japanese monkey, crab-eating monkey, dog, cat and rat. The minor sublingual glands: crab-eating monkey, dog, horse, rabbit and rat. The zygomatic glands: dog and cat. The molar glands: cat.The methods used are as follows. K: Marza's method for potassium. Ca: Kossa's silver nitrate method, Grandis et Mainini's method, alizarin S method, quinalizarin method and indirect test-method by Okamoto et al. Mg.: titan yellow method, alkali hypoiodite method and magneson method by Okamoto et al. Fe: Perls-Stieda's prussian blue reaction, Okamoto's indirect iron test-method for nucleic iron and the other masked iron, Gage's and Scott's microincineration methods. Cu: Uzman's rubeanic acid method, rubeanic acid, p-dimethylaminobenzylidenerhodanine and diphenylcarbazide methods by Okamoto-Utamura. Zn: Okamoto and Hashimoto's diphenylthiocarbazide method, dithizone method by Maeda et al, Maske's and Fleischhauer-Horstman's vital staining method. P: uranyl silver nitrate method, molybdic acid ammonium strychnine method by Okamoto et al:The conclusions are as follows.1) K: The reactions in the serous and mucous cells in all kinds of salivary glands of observed animals are positive. Especially, a stronger reaction appears around the nucleus.2) Ca: Weak reactions are observed in the serous cells of the investigated glands. While a strong reaction characterizes the serous cells in the demilune of the minor sublingual glands in the dog and rabbit. Excepting the mucous cells in the submandibular glands of the dog, the reaction of the same cells in all the observed animals are negative.3) Mg: The reactions in the serous and mucous cells are positive, excepting the parotid glands in the horse and the mucous cells in the zygomatic and molar glands. Strong reaction appears in the serous and mucous cells of the cat.4) Fe: The ferric iron (F+++) in the ivestigated materials is not detected, while the masked iron in the mucous cells is strongly reacted by the microincineration method. A weak reaction of the nuclic iron appears in the observed glands.5) Cu: The reactions for cupper are all negative in all materials.6) Zn: The serous and mucous cells in the submandibular glands of the rabbit are strongly reacted by vital staining but the others are negative. Reactions other than the vital staining are as follows. The parotid glands: A strong reaction in the horse, negative reaction in the Japanese monkey, crab-eating monkey and rabbit are observed. The submandibular glands: Excepting the Japanese monkey and crab-eating monkey, the reactions are positive in the rest, especially the serous and mucous cells in the rabbit are strongly reacted. Minor sublingual glands: The serous and mucous cells in the horse are strongly reacted, while a weak reaction appears in the mucous cells of the others. The zygomatic glands: Both of the cells are reacted, above all the mucous cells have a stronger reaction.7) P: The author do not detect this substance in there investigations.