Seromucous Cells Research Articles

Structure and carbohydrate histochemistry of postnatal canine salivary glands.

AbstractStructural changes in secretory units of developing canine salivary glands have been correlated with their histochemically demonstrable carbohydrate content. At birth, three and eight weeks, and six months, secretory cells and duct systems of parotid, submandibular, sublingual and zygomatic glands of mongrel puppies were examined for morphology and localization of sulfomucin, sialomucin, neutral polysaccharide and glycogen. Combining structural and histochemical criteria a classification was formulated to discriminate between mucous, serous, and seromucous cells. Within the first six months of life changes occur in the proportion of these cells in individual salivary glands. Structurally distinct typical and atypical mucous cells contained acidic carbohydrates, usually sulfomucin. In sublingual glands of more mature dogs, however, sialomucin was the predominant constituent in atypical mucous cells. Serous acinar cells containing neutral polysaccharide occurred only in these glands. Seromucous acinar cells secreting acidic carbohydrates, usually sialomucins, were recognized in parotid and zygomatic glands. Demilunes composed of sialomucin‐producing seromucous cells and neutral polysaccharide‐producing serous cells were observed in submandibular and zygomatic glands, respectively. From this investigation it appears that the structural and carbohydrate profile of developing canine salivary glands is distinctive to the particular age examined.

An ultrastructural study of the submandibular glands of the squirrel monkey, Saimiri sciureus.

AbstractIn squirrel monkey (Saimiri sciureus) the position of submandibular glands in the neck, on either side of the trachea, more closely resembles that of rodents than that of other primates. The glands exhibit seromucous acini and mucous tubules with seromucous demilunes. Electron microscopy shows basal cytoplasmic folds and well‐developed intercellular tissue spaces and canaliculi only in relation to seromucous cells. Greatly dilated cisternae of the granular endoplasmic reticulum and prominent Golgi membranes are characteristic of the mucous cells. The secretory granules of seromucous and mucous cells are morphologically distinct and indicate chemically different products for the two cell types. Histochemically, the seromucous cell shows the presence of acid mucosubstance as indicated by the PAS and Alcian blue techniques. Preliminary studies showed no appreciable quantity of amylase in submandibular glands. The intercalated duct cell is juxtaposed with the acinar cell or mucous tubule cell. Short luminal microvilli, prominent Golgi complexes and scant apical granules are notable features of intercalated duct cells. Four cell types compose the striated ducts, viz., granular light cells, agranular dark cells, vesiculated dark cells, and basal cells. Peripheral nerves are found in five different locations: in the connective tissue (interstitial), between adjacent myoepithelial and mucous‐secreting cells, in the intercellular space between adjacent secretory cells, and between basal plications of striated ducts and between adjacent myoepithelial and intercalated duct cells.

HISTOCHEMICAL STUDIES ON SEROMUCOUS- AND MUCOUS-SECRETING CELLS OF HUMAN SALIVARY GLANDS.

AbstractHuman salivary and lacrimal glands have been studied with a variety of methods to demonstrate polysaccharides in tissue section. On the basis of these studies, an attempt has been made to clarify the classification of exocrine cells. Serous cells secrete proteinaceous material without significant polysaccharide in the secretory granules such as the pancreatic acinar cell and gastric chief cell. Seromucous cells secrete a watery product, but the secretory granules contain variable amounts of mucopolysaccharide in the secretory granule. Typical seromucous cells are found in the parotid gland, lacrimal gland, submaxillary gland and eccrine sweat glands. Mucous cells liberate a viscous product rich in mucopolysaccharide. The typical mucous cell is the intestinal goblet cell. Other examples are the mucous portion of the submaxillary gland, the entire sublingual gland, bronchial gland, and Brunner's gland. Human pancreatic acinar and gastric chief cells are unique as compared to other species since the secretory granules of these cells, usually considered to be serous, contain a small amount of neutral mucopolysaccharide.