[Morphometric and stereologic study of changes in the submandibular gland of mice with hypervitaminosis A]

Daily administration of 150 IU vitamin A/gram of body weight in mice, during 10 days, led the authors to observe: submandibular glands showed acini of slightly reduced size, with lower cells whose contours were not always sharp and containing smaller number of cytoplasmic granules. The nuclei of the acinar cells were reduced in volume. The granulose ducts were similar to those of the controls in size but showed signs of degeneration as well as cell nuclei of reduced volume. The striated ducts were smaller than those of the controls, while the excretory ducts were dilated, with lower cells and nuclei of reduced volume. General examination showed that the hypervitaminotic animals had more abundant connective stroma than the controls. The glandular structures were studied morphometrically and estereologically.