Abstract
Serial paraffin sections of the salivary glands in the golden hamsters which had been fixed in ZENKER-formalin or 20% neutral formalin, were stained with HEIDENHAIN's azan and by SUZUKI's silver-impregnation method respectively. The results of the observation are summerized as follows:
1. In the submaxillary gland of the golden hamster, as those in other rodents, a special duct, ‘granular duct’, developed well in the portion between the isthmi and striated duct. The cytoplasm of the epithelial cells in both granular and striated ducts consists of two different substances: the ground- and granuloplasm. The former occupies the apical portion of the cell body, involving the nucleus, and projects basalwards into the latter with its numerous thin laminae. So the stripes observed in this portion are nothing but the figures of the transverse sections through these laminae.
2. Polarity of GOLGI's apparatus in these cells are not so apparent as those in other exocrine glands. As a rule this apparatus tends to appear in the apical portion of the cell body but in this case its major parts often occurs beneath the nucleus.
3. Secretory substances in the granuloplasm are produced by fusion or liquefaction of granules, and accumlated towards the basement membrane to be expelled at this spot, while those in the groundplasm of the cell of granular duct proceed in opposite direction. Judging from the data above, it may be said that the glandular cell in the granular duct have the bipolarity relating to secretion process.
4. Among the glandular cells of granular duct, there exist so-called intercalated cells of nervous character. They seem to be a transmitting element of stimuli between nerve fibers and receptors, and have much resemblance to the CAJAL's interstitial sympathetic neurons in form and structure.
5. Any sorts of the formations often observed on the free surface of the absorbing epithelial cells, such as cuticula or brush border, could not be observed in the cells of the striated and granular duct. All the data obtained in the present studies suggest that the cell in both portions of the duct system in salivary glands may have endocrine function.
