Regeneration of Rat Submandibular Gland after Release of Duct Ligation

Abstract

The ducts of rat submandibular glands were ligated for 4 weeks, and the location of peroxidase activity in the glands was examined for 24 weeks.
One week after release, the pattern of peroxidase activity was identical to that immediately after the release of the 4-week duct ligation.
At 2 weeks some cells revealed peroxidase activity in the cisterna of the rough endoplasmic reticulum and in the nuclear envelope. Those cells contained no secretory granules.
At 4 weeks the cisterna of the rough endoplasmic reticulum, the nuclear envelope, and the secretory granules showed high peroxidase activity.
Granulated cells with high peroxidase activity were increasingly numerous after 8 weeks and 16 weeks. A fine filamentous substructure was found in some granules with peroxidase activity.
At 24 weeks cells containing granules with high peroxidase activity were scarce, and most of the acini consisted of cells similar to those in the control specimens.