The basal cells of the main excretory duct of rat submandibular glands were examined using a method of serial sectioning and electron microscopy.
60% of all basal cells had the primary cilia. Various sizes of ciliated basal cells were present between epithelial cells.
Therefore, the basal cells were divided into three types (S, M, L) according to their size. Incidence and the projection direction of the cilia in every type of cell were examined.
1 Type S cell: These cells were the smallest cells of all and had numerous free-ribosomes in their cytoplasm. Only 8% of S cells had primary cilia which projected into vacuoles in the cytoplasm toward the lumen.
2 Type M cell: These cells were intermediate in size and had a moderate electron density of their cytoplasm. About 79% of M cells had primary cilia which projected in random directions.
3 Type L cell: Type L cells were the largest of all. Their form was similar to that of epithelial cells. About 92% of L cells had primary cilia. Many primary cilia of these cells projected toward the basal portion of the cell. Only a small number of the cilia were oriented parallel with the luminal surface. No cilia directed towards the lumen were observed in the L cells.
Therefore, it seems that as these cells grow, the primary cilia are formed and the direction of projection of the cilia is changed from towards the lumen to the basal portion of the cell.
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