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Updated: Jun 11, 2026
Retroductal Submandibular Gland Instillation and Localized Fractionated Irradiation in a Rat Model of Salivary Hypofunction
Published on: April 24, 2016
Expression and distribution of tenascin in rat submandibular glands following irradiation
S Bartel-Friedrich1, C Lautenschläger, H-J Holzhausen
1Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Section of Phoniatrics and Pedaudiology, University Hospital, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany. sylva.bartel-friedrich@medizin.uni-halle.de
Unlabelled:
The aim of this study was to investigate the late changes in the expression of tenascin-C (TN-C) in salivary glands (SG) following irradiation (IRR).
Materials And Methods:
In 124 submandibular SG from 62 Wistar rats, the effect of IRR dose (fractionated IRR, 2 Gy per day, total dose of 20, 40, or 60 Gy), time since IRR (6 months vs. 12 months), and animal age (1 year vs. 1.5 years) on TN-C expression profile and its distribution pattern was investigated.
Results:
Expression of TN-C showed slight to moderate alterations in the irradiated specimens. The expression differed in frequency and degree among various tissue structures. The most striking finding was pronounced dose-dependent heterogeneity, with increases, decreases and fluctuations in staining.
Conclusion:
The staining of TN-C predominantly showed notable dose-dependent heterogeneity, persisting for up to 1 year after completion of IRR. Thus, these findings can be attributed to late radiation effects. The altered expression of tenascin-C may play at least a partial role in late radiogenic dysfunction of the submandibular SG.
