Effects of Mastication and Submandibular Gland Ectomy on the Growth Ability of Isoproterenol-stimulated Parotid Gland and Other Tissues in Male Mice

Abstract

In a previous article we reported that mastication played an important role in the development of submandibular glands in male mice. Submandibular glands contain epidermal growth factor (EGF) which stimulates the proliferation of various cells in developing animals.
In this study, the effects of the hypotrophy of submandibular glands caused by reduction of mastication and the removal of the glands on the growth ability of isoproterenol (IPR)-stimulated parotid glands and other tissues were investigated.
The animals in the experiment were male mice and they divided into three groups, a control group fed a solid diet, a group fed a paste diet and a group with removed submandibular glands fed a solid diet.