Transplantation of vascularized submandibular gland in dogs.
OBJECTIVE
Presently, treatments for xerostomia only target symptoms, as an active therapy method has not been established. Herein, we discuss the possibility of using a submandibular gland allograft technique for the disease.


METHODS
Using a vascularized submandibular gland transplantation method, we extracted portions of the submandibular gland, including the duct and chorda tympani branches, from beagle dogs and placed them into the submental region of age- and weight-matched dogs. We then measured the amount of saliva secretion and examined the grafted glands histologically.


RESULTS
Sufficient quantities of saliva were secreted from the grafted glands with pilocarpine treatment. Histologic findings showed that the acinar cells in the grafted and untreated contralateral glands had some atrophy, as compared with the normal glands; however, periodic acid Schiff staining showed that they produced saliva.


CONCLUSIONS
Transplantation of vascularized submandibular glands into dogs was successful and may become a novel treatment strategy for patients with xerostomia.
Tanaka Isomura
Emiko
E
First Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Graduate School of Dentistry, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan. tanaemi@dent.osaka-u.ac.jp
Yoshitomi
Keiichi
K
Hamaguchi
Munehiro
M
Yamamoto
Yumi Eguchi
YE
Kogo
Mikihiko
M
D000818:Animals; D018678:Cholinergic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D002814:Chorda Tympani Nerve / Q000637:transplantation; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007601:Jugular Veins; D008297:Male; D008438:Maxillary Artery; D010862:Pilocarpine / Q000494:pharmacology; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism; D018987:Salivary Ducts / Q000637:transplantation; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical; D013363:Submandibular Gland / Q000098:blood supply / Q000187:drug effects / Q000637:transplantation*; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000601:surgery*
D018678:Cholinergic Agents; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D010862:Pilocarpine; D016559:Tacrolimus