On the ultrastructure of the parotid gland in miniature pigs

Summary

This communication reports on the morphology of the parotid gland of miniature pigs (Göttingen strain).

• 1. The glandular system consists in its terminal portions of acinar secretory parts. Between the basal lamina and the secretory epithelial cells myoepithelial cells are located.

• 2. The cytoplasmic organization of the acinar cells represents the features of mucous secretory cells. By electron microscopic means, light secretory granules have been demonstrated which frequently are coalescent. Between the bulk of secretory material only small remnants of cytoplasm are visible. The electron dense nuclei are located in basal parts of the cells. Intercellular canaliculi have not been observed.

• 3. The intercalary ducts, located between the acinar portions and the striated ducts of the gland, are long and narrow tubules, frequently branched. Their epithelium is simple cuboidal, and there is no indication of any secretory activity.

• 4. The epithelium of the striated ducts is simple columnar. The orientation of mitochondria parallel to the cell axis, and also the invaginations of the basal cell membrane give the basal cytoplasm a vertically striated appearance.

• 5. The paravascular nerves of the gland's connective tissue consist of bundles of unmyelinated axons. These branch into smaller bundles, and finally into single unmyelinated axons which reach the acinar portions. These axons appear to be only partly surrounded by Schwann cells. Very thin axons alone penetrate the basal lamina and reach the secretory cells of the acini; moreover, these axons may occasionally reach the intercellular spaces between the secretory cells. Within these terminal parts of the axons groups of synaptic vesicles appear.