title: Histological analysis of the sublingual gland in rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes.
abstract: This study was designed to examine whether the sublingual gland parenchyma is influenced by the development of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. The sublingual glands of rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes were examined by light and electron microscopy. In order to define the limiting membrane of mucous granules in more detail, samples processed by rapid freezing following by freeze-substitution in addition to chemical fixation were also prepared for electron microscopy. Light and electron microscopy showed vacuole-like structures considered to be lipid droplets in the cytoplasm of serous demilune cells, the largest reaching 4 microm in diameter. Electron microscopy of the chemically fixed samples revealed granule-like structures in addition to the mucous granules proper in the mucous cell cytoplasm. However, electron microscopy of the freeze-substitution fixed samples demonstrated no limiting membrane on the surface of the granule-like structures, although this was clearly observed on the surface of the mucous granules. Accordingly, the granule-like structures present in the mucous cell cytoplasm appeared to be lipid droplets. These findings suggest that the sublingual gland mucous cells become dysfunctional during the development of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, although to a slighter degree than the serous demilune cells.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Life Dentistry at Tokyo, The Nippon Dental University.
authors.forename: Masaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kamata
authors.forename: Masayori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shirakawa
authors.forename: Kenichiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kikuchi
authors.forename: Takanori
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsuoka
authors.forename: Shigeo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aiyama
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000473:pathology*; D008055:Lipids; D051381:Rats; D022142:Secretory Vesicles / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013311:Streptozocin; D013361:Sublingual Gland / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014617:Vacuoles / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D008055:Lipids; D013311:Streptozocin