Influence of Parasympathectomy on Differentiation of the Acinar Cell in the Developing Rat Sublingual Gland

Abstract

Influence of parasympathectomy on the differentiation of acinar cells in developing rat sublingual gland was examined by using light and electron microscopies.
Parasympathetic denervation was performed by surgical ramoval of the left chorda timpani including the left lingual nerve at 24 or 48 hours after birth. Both left devervated and right unoperated intact glands were removed on 35 days after birth.
In 3 of 10 sublingual glands denervated at 24 hours after birth, unusual terminal portions consisted of several serous acinar cells were observed. There was no change in the unoperated intact gland. The glands denervated at 48 hours after birth did not show any morphological changes except a decrease in their weight.
Serous acinar cells which formed an unusual terminal portion were similar to serous demilunar cells of the normal sublingual gland. However, all of these acinar cells directly faced the lumen and did not form a demilune.
Based on these findings, it is strongly supposed that the parasympathetic nerve participates in the differentiation of acinar cells of developing rat sublingual gland and an effective time of parasympathectomy is limited within 24 hours after birth.