IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL LOCALIZATION OF EPIDERMAL GROWTH FACTOR IN THE INTERCALATED DUCT SECRETORY GRANULES OF THE SUBMANDIBULAR GLANDS OF ADULT FEMALE A/J MICE

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The unlabeled antibody peroxidase-antiperoxidase method and the protein A-gold colloid method were used for localization of EGF in the intercalated duct secretory granules of the submandibular glands of adult A/J “female” mice. Immunoreactive EGF was detected in the secretory granules of the intercalated duct cells and granular convoluted tubule cells. Electron microscopically, EGF was localized only in the secretory granules with the gold particles, indicative of EGF not being distributed homogeneously over the granules. A characteristic finding was an EGF-positive “peripheral part” and an EGF-negative “central part”. However, the density of labeling by gold particles over the peripheral part was lower than that within the secretory granules of the granular convoluted tubule cells. The findings suggest that the intercalated duct secretory granules are only a minor source of EGF in the submandibular glands of adult female mice.