title: Morphological Changes of Myoepithelial Cells in the Rat Submandibular Gland Following the Application of Surgical Stimuli.
abstract: Myoepithelial cells (MECs) exist on the basal surface of acini in major exocrine glands, include myofilaments and various constructive proteins, and share characteristics with smooth muscle and epithelial cells. MECs project several ramified processes to invest acini, and possibly contract to compress acini to support the secretion by the glandular cells. However, the functional roles of MECs in salivary secretion are still unclear. We investigated morphological changes in immunostained MECs using the anti-α-smooth muscle actin (αSMA) antibody in operated or non-operated contralateral (NC) submandibular glands after partial or total resection. Furthermore, we investigated and discuss other salivary glands of rats. MECs in the parotid, sublingual and submandibular gland of adult rats exhibited different shapes and localizations. After surgery, in both operated and NC glands, the number of MECs and αSMA-immunopositive areas increased significantly. Three-dimensional analysis using a confocal laser-scanning microscope revealed that substantial and significant enhancement became evident in the number, length, and thickness of MEC-processes covering acini of the operated and NC submandibular glands. The preset findings indicate that MECs alter the morphology of their processes in operated and NC glands after surgery of the partial or total resection. It is suggested that MECs promote salivary secretion using elongated, thickened, and more ramified processes.
authors.affiliation: Division of Anatomy, Meikai University School of Dentistry, Sakado, Saitama, Japan; Division of Oral Rehabilitation, Meikai University School of Dentistry.
authors.forename: Yoshihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kawabe
authors.affiliation: Division of Anatomy, Meikai University School of Dentistry, Sakado, Saitama, Japan; Division of Oral Rehabilitation, Meikai University School of Dentistry.
authors.forename: Kenich
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mizobe
authors.affiliation: Division of Anatomy, Meikai University School of Dentistry , Sakado, Saitama, Japan.
authors.forename: Yasuhiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Bando
authors.affiliation: Division of Anatomy, Meikai University School of Dentistry , Sakado, Saitama, Japan.
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sakiyama
authors.affiliation: Division of Anatomy, Meikai University School of Dentistry, Sakado, Saitama, Japan; Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery II, Meikai University School of Dentistry.
authors.forename: Fuyoko
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Taira
authors.affiliation: Division of Biochemistry, Meikai University School of Dentistry.
authors.forename: Akito
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tomomura
authors.affiliation: Division of Oral Rehabilitation, Meikai University School of Dentistry.
authors.forename: Hisao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Araki
authors.affiliation: Division of Anatomy, Meikai University School of Dentistry , Sakado, Saitama, Japan.
authors.forename: Osamu
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Amano
keywords: immunohistochemistry; myoepithelial cell; rat; submandibular gland; α-smooth muscle actin