Abstract
Amylase (AM), lactoferrin (LF), lysozyme (LY) and secretory component (SC) were studied in normal human salivary gland tissues (60 cases from various sites) by the peroxidase-antiperoxidase method for the purpose of establishing the control findings for tumor investigation. AM was exclusively localized in serous acinar cells but also weakly positive in occasional intercalated duct cells. LF and LY were demonstrated in the cells of both serous acini and intercalated ducts. However, the reaction of LF tended to be more intense in ductal cells, whereas LY was more prominent in acinar cells.
Although SC displayed a wide distribution from serous acinar cells through intercalated, striated and intra-and interlobular excretory duct cells, the stainability was generally more intense in cells of the ductal system. Since none of the markers investigated in the present study were really specific to any anatomical element of salivary glands, their combined localization may be helpful to estimate the participation and degree of differentiation of secretory epithelial cells in salivary gland tumors.
