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Micropuncture and histologic study of submaxillary glands of young rats

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Zusammenfassung

Die Glandula submaxillaris junger Ratten wurde histologisch und mit Hilfe der Mikropunktionstechnik untersucht. Speichelproben wurden aus verschiedenen Gangabschnitten gewonnen und auf Osmolalität, Natrium- und Chloridkonzentrationen untersucht. Es wurde folgendes gefunden:

  1. 1.

    Die Acini der Glandula submaxillaris 2–5 Wochen alter Ratten sind noch nicht differenziert. Ihre Vorläufer sind die sogenannten „terminalen Tubuli“.

  2. 2.

    Abweichend von erwachsenen Ratten ist das Primärsekret junger Ratten hyperton. Die Natrium- bzw. Chloridkonzentrationen sind im Mittel 160 bzw. 120 mÄq/l. Der unerwartete Befund eines hypertonen Primärsekretes wird diskutiert.

  3. 3.

    Der Endspeichel ist hypoton und enthält im Mittel 18 mÄq/l Natrium, 27 mÄq/l Chlorid und 49 mÄq/l Kalium.

  4. 4.

    Die Abnahme der Osmolalität, der Natrium- und Chloridkonzentrationen erfolgt vornehmlich im Hauptausführungsgang zwischen Drüsenhilus und Gangmündung in die Mundhöhle, indem Natriumchlorid aktiv resorbiert wird.

Summary

The morphology and the function of submaxillary glands of young rats were studied by means of histologic and micropuncture techniques. Osmolality, sodium and chloride concentrations were measured in saliva samples obtained from various levels of the duct system. The findings were as follows:

  1. 1.

    The acini of the submaxillary gland of 2 to 5 weeks old rats are not differentiated. Their precursors are the so-called “terminal tubules”.

  2. 2.

    Unlike adult rats, the primary secretion of neonatal submaxillary gland was found to be hypertonic. The mean sodium and chloride concentrations were 160 and 120 mEq/L respectively. The significance of the unexpected finding of the hypertonicity of the primary secretion is discussed.

  3. 3.

    The final saliva is hypotonic. The mean sodium, chloride and potassium concentrations were 18, 27 and 49 mEq/L respectively.

  4. 4.

    The osmolality and sodium and chloride concentrations progressively decrease as the saliva flows along the main duct of the gland. This is due to reabsorption of sodium chloride.

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Author notes

  1. J. Ricardo Martinez

    Present address: Departmento de Fisiologia Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de El Salvador, San Salvador, El Salvador

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Physiologisches und Pathologisches Institut der Freien Universität Berlin, Germany

    Heinz Holzgreve, J. Ricardo Martinez & Annemarie Vogel

Authors
  1. Heinz Holzgreve
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  2. J. Ricardo Martinez
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  3. Annemarie Vogel
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Additional information

This investigation was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.

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Holzgreve, H., Martinez, J.R. & Vogel, A. Micropuncture and histologic study of submaxillary glands of young rats. Pflügers Archiv 290, 134–143 (1966). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00363691

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00363691

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