Summary
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1.
The innervation of the submandibular and sublingual salivary glands of the rat has been studied histologically. A histochemical method for cholinesterase was used to demonstrate the nerve fibres.
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2.
The nerves were found to enter the glands as a series of intercommunicating trunks which accompanied and gave branches to the ducts and arteries. The nerves were seen to terminate by breaking up to form a network which surrounds the secretory acini.
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3.
In the submandibular gland the arrangement of the nerve net in the vicinity of the tropochrome and homeochrome cells was practically identical. In the sublingual gland fewer nerve fibres were visible and the concentration of cholinesterase within them was less. The arrangement of the nerve fibres in the region of the mucous and demilune cells appeared to be identical.
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4.
Postganglionic sympathectomy was found to have no effect on the distribution of the nerves within the glands. It was concluded that the nerves seen within the glands were parasympathetic although a few of the fibres might possibly have been sensory.
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5.
Some cholinesterase activity was found in the nuclei and cytoplasm of the duct cells. A small amount of enzyme activity was also seen in the walls of the tropochrome and homeochrome cells but more especially in the tropochrome cells.
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6.
The significance of these findings in relation to histological and physiological observations of past and present workers is discussed.
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Snell, R.S., Garrett, J.R. The effect of postganglionic sympathectomy on the histochemical appearances of cholinesterase in the nerves supplying the submandibular and sublingual salivary glands of the rat. Z. Zellforsch. 48, 201–214 (1958). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00319277
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00319277