Developmental Morphology of the Palatine Glands in Rats: An Electron Microscope Study

Although minor salivary glands play a significant functional role in the oral cavity, their developmental morphology and cell differentiation has been scarcely studied. This study aimed to describe the development of rat palatine glands with regard to the ultrastructural morphology of the secretory cells and surrounding myoepithelial cells (MECs). Palatine glands from rats at embryonic ages (E) 18 and 20 days, and postnatal days (PN) 0, 3, 7, 10, 13, 21, 30, 42, and 60 were fixed and prepared for morphological analysis and immunocytochemical labeling of alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA). At E18, epithelial cords were observed extending from the palatal epithelium and showed negative reactivity to α-SMA. After luminization at E20, the cells of immature acini accumulated secretory granules of various densities: electron-dense, electron-lucent and some empty-appearing granules. MECs were poorly differentiated at E20 and exhibited only slight α-SMA expression. At birth, mucous and serous cells were typically located around a common lumen. Thereafter, serous cells began to move to the periphery to form demilunes by PN7. The mucous secretory granules of intermediate electron density became predominant around PN13. At PN21, these granules were dramatically reduced in number and most of the acini in adults contained acinar cells with numerous electron-lucent granules, and a few serous demilune cells with electron-dense granules. After birth, MECs progressively accumulated actin microfilaments until prominent α-SMA expressing MECs invested the acini and the proximal part of the intercalated ducts in the adult. Anat Rec, 301:1820-1833, 2018. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.