Related Experiment Videos
Quantitative age-related differences in human sublingual gland.
Carla Ruffeil Moreira1, Luciana Reis Azevedo, José Roberto Pereira Lauris
1Oral Medicine, Bauru School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo, Bauru, São Paulo, Brazil. carlarm@globo.com
Archives of Oral Biology
|June 23, 2006
Summary
Human sublingual glands (SLG) show significant age-related morphological changes, with decreased glandular volume and parenchyma, and increased stroma and adipose tissue. These changes were not gender-dependent.
Area of Science:
- Anatomy
- Histology
- Aging Research
Background:
- Human sublingual glands (SLG) are major salivary glands.
- Understanding age-related changes in SLG morphology is crucial for salivary gland research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify age- and gender-related morphological differences in human sublingual glands (SLG).
Main Methods:
- Ninety human SLG were analyzed from necropsies across different age groups (0-92 years).
- Morphometric analysis using light microscopy quantified volume density and total volume of acini, ducts, stroma, adipose tissue, and septa.
Main Results:
- Glandular volume decreased by 33.78% with age.
- Acini and septa volume density decreased significantly, while ducts, stroma, and adipose tissue increased substantially.
- Total volume of acini and septa decreased, whereas ducts, stroma, and adipose tissue increased significantly with age.
- No significant gender-based differences were observed.
Conclusions:
- Aging leads to a decrease in parenchyma and an increase in stroma within human sublingual glands.
- These observed changes in SLG are characteristic of aging in human salivary glands.