A structural and immunocytochemical study of palatine and labial salivary glands from chronic alcoholics

In the present study we investigated tissue changes in palatine (PG) and labial (LG) minor salivary glands from individuals who had died of alcoholic hepatic cirrhosis, to characterize histopathological parameters of alcoholic sialosis, that may be used for differential diagnosis. Samples obtained from autopsies were processed using cytochemical techniques for mucosubstances and immunocytochemical labelling for cytokeratines, PS 100 and T-cells. Both PG and LG showed dilated excretory ducts with atrophic epithelium, which contained PAS+ metachromatic material and detached cells. Intra and interlobular ductal hyperplasia was present in some areas, mainly in PG. CK expression was heterogeneous in ductal cells, and negative in acinar cells. Most of the acinar cell nuclei were normal, but some of them were atypical in shape and distribution. Myoepithelial cells, serous demilunes and the basal region of the cells of the striated ducts expressed PS 100. In PG, 85% of the mononuclear infiltrates expressed T-cell markers, whereas in LG only 40% of these cells were T-cells. These findings, in addition to other histopathological parameters seen in previous studies, may be used as indicators for differential diagnosis with other gland pathologies.