Effect of postganglionic sympathectomy on the ultrastructure of the rat parotid gland

Summary Following two weeks of superior cervical ganglionectomy, the parotid glands of adult rats were removed and studied by electron microscopy. Sympathectomy induced striking alterations of acini, resulting in a heterogeneous population of acinar cells, but it had no obvious effect on the duct system. Most of the altered cells could be classified on a cytological basis as dark cells or light cells. Dark cells predominated and contained more secretory granules, less granular endoplasmic reticulum, fewer Golgi membranes, and smaller lumina and intercellular canaliculi than normal acinar cells. The synthesis and extrusion of secretory products appeared to be minimal in these cells. Light cells possessed ultrastructural features, such as dilated cisternae of granular endoplasmic reticulum and prominent Golgi membranes, which were opposite to those of dark cells and indicative of a high degree of secretory activity.The heterogeneous population of cells following sympathectomy indicates that the sympathetic nervous system may play an important role in regulating the secretory synchrony of acinar cells.Supported by U.S.P.H.S. Grant DE 02110.     

Isolation and partial characterization of two populations of secretory granules from rat parotid glands

Summary A method is described for the isolation of two populations of secretory granules from rat parotid glands utilizing differences in their sedimentation characteristics. The granule preparations were analyzed for homogeneity by electron microscopy and chemical analyses. The soluble contents of both types of granules were obtained by hypotonic lysis, and the proteins compared by SDS-PAGE and ion exchange-gel filtration chromatography. Both populations of secretory granules appear to have the same protein composition as that of the parotid saliva. The secretory granules with the smaller apparent buoyant density became labelled with radioactive leucine earlier than the heavier granules when a pulse of this amino acid was supplied to a gland slice system. The lighter granules appear to represent an earlier stage in maturation.     

Aquaporin-5 water channel in lipid rafts of rat parotid glands

Aquaporin-5 (AQP5), an apical plasma membrane (APM) water channel in salivary glands, lacrimal glands, and airway epithelium, has an important role in fluid secretion. The activation of M3 muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChRs) or α1-adrenoceptors on the salivary glands induces salivary fluid secretion. AQP5 localizes in lipid rafts and activation of the M3 mAChRs or α1-adrenoceptors induced its translocation together with the lipid rafts to the APM in the interlobular ducts of rat parotid glands. This review focuses on the mechanisms of AQP5 translocation together with lipid rafts to the APM in the interlobular duct cells of parotid glands of normal rats and the impairment of AQP5 translocation in diabetes and senescence.     

Segmentation of parotid glands from registered CT and MR images

PurposeTo develop an automatic multimodal method for segmentation of parotid glands (PGs) from pre-registered computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) images and compare its results to the results of an existing state-of-the-art algorithm that segments PGs from CT images only.MethodsMagnetic resonance images of head and neck were registered to the accompanying CT images using two different state-of-the-art registration procedures. The reference domains of registered image pairs were divided on the complementary PG regions and backgrounds according to the manual delineation of PGs on CT images, provided by a physician. Patches of intensity values from both image modalities, centered around randomly sampled voxels from the reference domain, served as positive or negative samples in the training of the convolutional neural network (CNN) classifier. The trained CNN accepted a previously unseen (registered) image pair and classified its voxels according to the resemblance of its patches to the patches used for training. The final segmentation was refined using a graph-cut algorithm, followed by the dilate-erode operations.ResultsUsing the same image dataset, segmentation of PGs was performed using the proposed multimodal algorithm and an existing monomodal algorithm, which segments PGs from CT images only. The mean value of the achieved Dice overlapping coefficient for the proposed algorithm was 78.8%, while the corresponding mean value for the monomodal algorithm was 76.5%.ConclusionsAutomatic PG segmentation on the planning CT image can be augmented with the MR image modality, leading to an improved RT planning of head and neck cancer.     

Involvement of apoptosis and proliferation of acinar cells in atrophy of rat parotid glands induced by liquid diet

Parotid glands of experimental animals fed a liquid diet are reported to show atrophy (Hall and Schneyer 1964; Wilborn and Schneyer 1970; Hand and Ho 1981; Scott et al. 1990; Scott and Gunn 1991). To clarify whether apoptosis and proliferation of acinar cells participate in atrophy of rat parotid glands induced by liquid diet, rats were fed a liquid diet and compared to pellet-fed controls. Parotid glands were removed at 3, 7, 14 or 21?days, weighed, and examined using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and studied immunohistochemically for cleaved-caspase-3 (Casp-3), a marker of apoptotic cells, and 5-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine (BrdU), a marker for proliferating cells. Body weights of experimental rats fed liquid diets were not significantly different from controls fed pellet diets; however weights of experimental parotid glands were smaller than those of controls. In the experimental parotid glands, structures like apoptotic bodies were histologically observed in acini at each time point; more Casp-3-positive acinar cells were identified in experimental parotid glands than in the controls on days 3, 7, and 14. Experimental glands showed fewer BrdU-positive acinar cells at each time point. TEM confirmed typical apoptotic acinar cells in the atrophic glands. These findings suggest that increased acinar cell apoptosis and reduced acinar cell proliferation occur in atrophic parotid glands of rats fed a liquid diet.     

Maturation-related changes in mass and elemental contents of secretory granules as measured by electron-microprobe

Summary The relationship between granule density, protein content, and Ca and S contents were studied in two secretory granule fractions, from parotid glands of the rat, previously shown to constitute different stages in granule maturation. The density of the lighter fraction was between 1.133 and 1.142 g/ml, while that of the heavier fraction was greater than 1.142 g/ml. The mean protein content of the denser granules was 12% greater than that of the lighter granules (P<0.03), while the dry-mass elemental concentrations in the two granule fractions were unchanged. These results indicate that protein is added to granules during the maturation process (presumably by vesicular traffic), and that the resulting increase in granule density is not driven simply by decrease in water content and/or increased concentrations of inorganic Ca or S in the granules. The elemental concentration values also indicate that the diffusible elements permeate the granule membrane during the fractionation procedures.     

Immunohistochemical and ultrastructural investigation of acinar cells in submandibular and sublingual glands of rats fed a liquid diet

In atrophic parotid glands induced by liquid diet, acinar cell apoptosis is increased while proliferative activity is reduced. This study aimed to clarify how liquid diet affects submandibular and sublingual glands, including acinar cell apoptosis and proliferation. Seven-week-old male Wistar rats were fed either a liquid (experimental group) or pellet diet (control group) from 3 to 21 days, respectively. Submandibular and sublingual glands were weighed and examined histologically, ultrastructurally, and immunohistochemically using antibodies to cleaved caspase-3 (Casp-3) and 5-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine (BrdU). Weights of submandibular and sublingual gland from the experimental group were not significantly different from controls at any time point. Histological and ultrastructural characteristics of experimental acinar cells in both glands were normal. Acinar cells in control and experimental submandibular glands were positively stained with periodic acid Schiff (PAS) and weakly stained by alcian blue (AB). In control and experimental sublingual glands, mucous acinar cells were PAS-positive and strongly AB-positive. Although Casp-3- and BrdU-positive acinar cells were identified in both glands in the experimental group, their labeling indices were not significantly different from controls. In conclusion, liquid diet in rats does not induce atrophic alterations to acinar cells, including apoptosis and proliferative activity in submandibular and sublingual glands.     

Ultrastructural localization of dipeptidyl peptidase IV in rat salivary glands by immunocytochemistry

Summary The ultrastructural localization of dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP IV) (EC 3.4.14.5) in rat submandibular and parotid glands was studied immunocytochemically by the peroxidase-antiperoxidase (PAP) method, using a monospecific antiserum against rat kidney DPP IV. There were no differences in the immunocytochemical localization of DPP IV between submandibular and parotid glands. In these glands, DPP IV was primarily found to be associated with the luminal and intercellular canalicular plasma membranes of acinar cells and with the luminal plasma membranes of intercalated and striated duct cells. Occasionally, immunoreaction of DPP IV was detected in cytoplasmic vesicles (vacuoles), lysosomes, and multivesicular bodies in some acinar cells as well as in ductal epithelial cells. Furthermore, the reaction product was also found within the lumina of peri-acinar and peri-ductal capillaries and in the cytoplasm of some fibroblasts in the interstitial connective tissue. These data suggest that DPP IV in the submandibular and parotid glands may play some role in the secretion or reabsorption processes of secretory proteins and peptides in these glands.     

Surgical and microscopic anatomy of parotid and submandibular salivary glands of rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta)

Wedge biopsy of the caudal borders of the parotid or submandibular salivary glands of rhesus monkeys avoids major nerves, ducts, and blood vessels. This is a minor surgical procedure that provides adequate material for in vitro studies and causes no significant postoperative complications. Gross and light microscopic anatomy of the rhesus and human salivary glands are similar. We have concluded that rhesus monkeys are good models for human salivary diseases, including radiation sialoadenitis.     

Cell surface expression of 4 beta-galactosyltransferase accompanies rat parotid gland hypertrophy induced by changes in diet.

Maintenance of rats for 2 weeks on a diet consisting of 50% inert cellulose and 50% laboratory chow resulted in hypertrophy of the parotid gland and a 4-fold increase in total membrane-associated 4 beta-galactosyltransferase enzyme activity (EC 2.4.1.38). Localization of the increased specific activity to the cell surface of the enlarged gland was shown by subcellular fractionation of Golgi and plasma membranes. This observation was confirmed by enzyme assays of intact cells; quantification of immunofluorescence was made by using a fluorescence activated cell sorter. Parotid gland hypertrophy was inhibited by the administration of the specific modifier protein alpha-lactalbumin as well as by a monospecific antibody for 4 beta-galactosyltransferase. These agents also inhibited the incorporation of thymidine into DNA.     

Ultrastructural changes of Drosophila larval and prepupal salivary glands cultured in vitro with ecdysone

Summary Alterations in the ultrastructure of in vitro cultured larval salivary glands of Drosophila melanogaster in response to the steroid hormone ecdysone were studied in relation to complex changes in puffing patterns. We found that the changes in the fine structure of cultured glands reflected progression of the puffing pattern, and they paralleled those seen in vivo. We observed that glue secretion by exocytosis, the main function of salivary glands, took place between puff stage 5 (PS5) and PS7. Glue could not be expectorated under culture conditions but was slowly released from the lumen through a duct into the medium. After the cultured glands reached PS13/PS14, further progress of puffing and fine structural alterations required that the ecdysteroid titer be transiently extremely low or absent. Under in vitro conditions we did not observe the putative new secretory program(s) described for glands in vivo after PS12. However, ultrastructural changes which unambiguously indicated that an autohistolytic process had begun in vitro started to appear after PS17. Many salivary gland cells developed numerous features of progressive self-degradation between PS18 and PS21. Actual degradation of salivary glands in vivo seemed to be rapid, but in vitro degradation was never completed, probably due to a lack of exogenous factors from the hemolymph. Manipulations of ecdysone titer in vitro in the culture medium, known during the larval puffing cycle to cause premature induction of developmentally specific puffing patterns, did not affect the normal development of ultrastructural features of the cytoplasm and nucleus.     

Histopathological changes in rat pancreas and skeletal muscle associated with high fat diet induced insulin resistance

The effects of a high fat diet on the development of diabetes mellitus, insulin resistance and secretion have been widely investigated. We investigated the effects of a high fat diet on the pancreas and skeletal muscle of normal rats to explore diet-induced insulin resistance mechanisms. Forty-four male Wistar rats were divided into six groups: a control group fed standard chow, a group fed a 45% fat diet and a group fed a 60% fat diet for 3 weeks to measure acute effects; an additional three groups were fed the same diet regimens for 8 weeks to measure chronic effects. The morphological effects of the two high fat diets were examined by light microscopy. Insulin in pancreatic islets was detected using immunohistochemistry. The homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance index and insulin staining intensity in islets increased significantly with acute administration of high fat diets, whereas staining intensity decreased with chronic administration of the 45% fat diet. Islet areas increased significantly with chronic administration. High fat diet administration led to islet degeneration, interlobular adipocyte accumulation and vacuolization in the pancreatic tissue, as well as degeneration and lipid droplet accumulation in the skeletal muscle tissue. Vacuolization in the pancreas and lipid droplets in skeletal muscle tissue increased significantly with chronic high fat diet administration. We suggest that the glucolipotoxic effects of high fat diet administration depend on the ratio of saturated to unsaturated fatty acid content in the diet and to the total fat content of the diet.     

Ultrastructural changes accompanying secretion and cell death in the molting glands of an insect (Oncopeltus)

During the fifth (last) larval instar of Oncopeltus fasciatus, morphological changes in the molting glands associated with ecdysone secretion include an increase in cytoplasmic volume relative to that of the nucleus, increased amounts of rough endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria, and the formation of deep infoldings of the plasma membrane. On the sixth day of the fifth instar large electron-lucent areas become apparent beneath the basement membrane; however, the glands remain intact until the seventh (last) day of the instar when a dramatic fragmentation of the cytoplasm, and condensation and fragmentation of the nucleus are observed. It is likely that such changes occur rapidly, just prior to the time of ecdysis to an adult. Cell death in the molting glands of Oncopeltus is markedly different from that described for the molting glands of other insect species in that autophagic vacuoles are not observed prior to a complete loss of cellular integrity.     

Specific phosphorylation of a protein in calcium accumulating endoplasmic reticulum from rat parotid glands following stimulation by agonists involving cAMP as second messenger

Stimulation of secretion in exocrine cells by agonists involving cAMP as second messenger is associated with the phosphorylation of a specific membrane-associated 22.4-kDa protein (protein III) (Jahn et al.). Here it is shown by subcellular fractionation of rat parotid gland lobules that protein III is associated with the endoplasmic reticulum. The submicrosomal fractions containing protein III, also contain the ATP-dependent microsomal calcium pump activity. Protein III in microsomal subfractions can be phosphorylated in vitro with catalytic subunit from cAMP-dependent protein kinase. Phosphorylated protein III contains exclusively P-serine. Protein III can be removed from ER-membranes with acid chloroform-methanol or Triton X-114, but not by high salt wash indicating that it is tightly associated with the membranes. Protein III is smaller than phospholamban and, in contrast to phospholamban, resistant to heating in SDS. A relationship between phosphorylation of protein III and microsomal calcium sequestration is discussed.     

Effect of a low calcium diet on the ultrastructure of the parathyroid gland of chicks

Summary The effect of a low calcium diet on the ultrastructure of the parathyroid gland in the chick was examined. Two-week-old White Leghorn chicks were fed a low calcium diet (calcium content 0.63%) for two weeks. In these chicks, the parathyroid glands are grossly enlarged. Hypertrophy and hyperplasia of the chief cells are evident. The plasma membranes between adjacent cells are relatively straight but interdigitate in some places. Chief cells contain occasional membrane-limited secretory granules (150–350 m in diameter) and with contents of variable electron density. Secretory granules are distributed randomly but some are closely applied to the plasma membrane. There is an increase in the development of the rough-surfaced endoplasmic reticulum. The Golgi complex is enlarged and consists of cisternae arranged in concentric layers, smooth-surfaced and coated vesicles and condensing vacuoles. Dilatations of the cisternae at several points are observed. Mitochondria and filaments are also encountered. These morphological features suggest that low calcium intake stimulates the synthetic activity of the chief cells of the chick parathyroid.     

高脂喂养合并小剂量链脲佐菌素建立2型糖尿病大鼠模型

目的 观察不同配方的高脂饲料,以及不同周龄的大鼠对于该模型的造模成功率和模型病变特点的影响.方法 将26只3周龄SD大鼠分为正常一组(N1组)、模型一组(M1组)和模型二组(M2组);26只5周龄SD大鼠分为正常二组(N2组)、模型三组(M3组)和模型四组(M4组).M1组和M3组给予高脂饲料配方一喂养,M2组和M4组给予高脂饲料配方二喂养.4周后,各模型组大鼠腹腔注射STZ溶液35 mg/kg.连续观察大鼠的空腹血糖(FBG)、空腹胰岛素(FIN)、总胆固醇(TG)、甘油三酯(TC)水平.结果 5周龄SD大鼠的FBG水平在注射STZ后两周即可达到稳定状态,并维持在较高的水平;高脂饲料配方二使大鼠的进食量和体重增加明显,并且成功诱导出胰岛素抵抗( insulin resistance,IR).结论 选取5周龄SD大鼠作为模型动物,并给予配方二高脂饲料喂养,所建立的大鼠模型具备2型糖尿病的主要特征,是值得推广的2型糖尿病动物模型.     

In vivo effects of tunicamycin on the secretory processes of rat parotid glands

Summary The morphological and functional effects of tunicamycin were studied in rat parotid glands at the stage of the reformation of secretory granules following secretory stimulation by isoproterenol. Tunicamycin inhibited the incorporation of (³H)-mannose into the acid-insoluble fraction but had no effect on total protein synthesis as determined by the incorporation of (¹⁴C)-leucine. Thus the administration of tunicamycin in vivo inhibits the synthesis of mannose-rich glycoproteins in a manner similar to that in an in vitro system. The ultrastructure of the acinar cell showed little change following treatment with this drug, except that the number of reaccumulated secretory granules was greater than in the control. Amylase secretion stimulated by isoproterenol was inhibited in tunicamycin-treated cells, but did not decrease following treatment with N⁶,2-O-dibutyryladenosine 3-5-cyclic monophosphate, a secretory stimulator bypassing the -receptor. A radio-receptor assay using (³H)-dihydroalprenolol and direct localization using the fluorescent -adrenergic blocker 9-amino-acridin propranolol showed a marked reduction in the binding activity of -receptor following treatment with tunicamycin. Thus the inhibition of N-linked glycosylation appears to produce profound effects on the -adrenergic receptor-adenylate cyclase complex of acinar cells, although the steps of the transport and the exocytotic discharge of secretory materials are not affected.