Irradiated salivary glands in the rhesus monkey. A light microscopic study

Female rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) received fractionated doses of orthovoltage irradiation to the submandibular and sublingual glands. Changes in the glands varied from serous cell degranulation and degeneration in the submandibular glands to acinar cell necrosis and fibrosis in the sublingual glands. Acute inflammation was absent in all irradiated glands. In all glands, the microvasculature appeared normal.