Prenatal development of submandibular salivary gland of New-Zealand rabbits

ARTICLE INFO The paired submandibular gland plays a critical role in maintaining normal oral biology through the lubricating and antimicrobial actions of produced saliva. In this study, the developmental stages of the submandibular salivary gland of the New Zealand rabbits were investigated. Twenty New-Zealand rabbit fetuses of 11-30 days old were used. Samples of the head region and submandibular salivary glands were histologically stained and examined under a light microscope. Results revealed that the submandibular primordia appeared as bilateral invaginated epithelial buds from the linguo-gingival groove on the 12th day of prenatal life. By the 15 day, the buds deeply grow to form a cord-like structure that ends with compact bulges forming the future primitive acini. The formed cords are then branching to develop the primary glandular ducts by the 17 day, which are canalized on the 18 day. The primitive gland capsule was observed by the 22 day. The lobulation was recognized and became well developed by the 25 day. Similetanouly, the glandular duct system is completely developed, and serous adenomeres fully occupied the parenchyma and are surrounded by myoepithelial cells. The full-term fetuses have fully developed submandibular glands with a typically compound tubulo-acinar nature and parenchymal seromucoid adenomeres. The PAS staining revealed a strong positive reaction in the striated ducts; however, weak PAS reactions were noticed in the cytoplasm of the acinar cells Received 11/2018 Accepted 12/2018 Online 12/ 2018