Cytochemical variations of human von Ebner's glands

Human von Ebner's glands were analyzed during fetal and childhood development, and adultness, with the purpose of observing possible age-related cytochemical changes. Tongues from 8-38 weeks-old fetuses, samples of the lingual V from newborns, 8 to 14 years-old children and adults aged 20 years and older were used. H/E, and techniques for mucosubstances (PAS, PAS/amylase, PAS/sialidase, methenamine-silver, Alcian blue at pH 2.5 and 1.0, and Toluidine blue at pH 3.8) were employed. Between 16 and 20 weeks acini and ducts in the process of formation were identified, being the parenchyma completely developed at 24 weeks. The morphology of glands from newborns consisted of basophilic and periodate-negative serous acini. In infants secretory cells contained PAS positive apical granules that were sensitive to sialidase, periodate-reactive and slightly metachromatic. These characteristics were increased with age. Besides, in adults, the apical cytoplasm of the adenomerous and the luminal content were also alcianophilic. The cytochemical variations observed indicates that human von. Ebner's glands are composed of cells of the seromucous type that contain sialomucins and sulphomucins.