Postnatal development and differentiation of the opossum submandibular gland

The postnatal development and differentiation of the submandibular salivary gland has been examined in sixteen groups of young opossums. At birth the glandular elements, dispersed in loose connective tissue, consist only of ducts that are immature in appearance and of irregular secretory end-pieces. Development occurs in two phases, the first from birth to approximately 31 days postnatum, and the second thereafter. During the first phase the ductular elements show separation into intercalated and intralobular ducts, and attain structural maturity. The larger ducts are concentrated centrally within each lobule and lie in a markedly vascular connective tissue. The secretory end-pieces, initially acinar in form, are lined by proacinar cells which exhibit intercellular canaliculi at the lateral cell membranes and a few dense granules in the apical cytoplasm. During the second phase of development extensive changes occur within the secretory end-pieces, which elongate to form a system of branching tubules. Component cells show an increased granular content, and those in the main body of the tubules differentiate into mucous cells. By 34 cm postnatum the proacinar cells in the bulbous endings of the tubules are replaced by special serous cells possessing intercellular canaliculi and secretory granules which are either electron-lucent or electron-dense. The sequence of changes that occur during postnatal development is discussed and related to possible functional activities. The early development of the ducts may be correlated with their role in homeostasis, while the later development of secretory tubules and the differentiation of secretory cell types may be related to the onset of weaning, and may possibly be induced by this major change in dietary habit.