Alteration of the submandibular glands of female mice during pregnancy and lactation. A histological, histometric and histochemical study.

Abstract

The submandibular glands of mice show "masculinization" during pregnancy and lactation. In this work involving morphological, morphometric and histochemical analyses we observed an increase in the volume fraction and area of the granular ducts and the apical granulation of their cells. The maximum response to the masculinization occurred on the 15th day of pregnancy. From this day on a decrease in the volume fraction of the granular ducts starts, even though the gland keeps the "masculine pattern" throughout the end of the lactation phase. Our observations support the intermodulation between striated and granular ducts. In our opinion, the "masculinization" process of the submandibular gland is related to the progesterone increase which takes place during pregnancy; its maintenance during lactation is also connected to prolactin.