Light Microscopic Studies on Development of Submandibular Gland in Rats in Prenatal, Postnatal and Adult Terms

The objective of the present study was to investigate comparatively the histological and histochemical structures of submandibular gland in prenatal, postnatal and adult rats. In the present study, tissue samples obtained from adult, foetal, and offspring Wistar albino rats (7 each) were evaluated, as the research material. We determined that the number of corpus glandule in prenatal tissues were less than that of those in postnatal and adult tissues. In addition, the connective tissue of submandibular gland was seen as occupying a wider area in prenatal rats as compared to that of the tissues of postnatal and adult rats. A considerable increase in the number of corpus glandule was observed in the tissues of postnatal and adult rats. Postnatal and adult rat glandular ducts were found more developed as compared to the glandular ducts at prenatal stage. Granular ducts were observed in adult rats only. Three different cell types were determined in the granular ducts. The granules of granular duct cells showed a weak PAS positive reaction. Histochemical methods showed that the secretory epithelial cells of the corpus glandules in each of the three developmental stages showed weak PAS positive and AB negative reaction whereas some of the corpus glandule had PAS, AB, and PAS/AB positive staining.