Summary
The sheep parotid is a compound tubular gland; its ultrastructure reflects the function of this gland to secrete large amounts of fluid with very little protein. The cells of the secretory tubules possess extensively folded lateral plasma membranes and a fairly large number of mitochondria. Rapid equilibration of water across the epithelium is assured by the close proximity over large areas of intercellular spaces and the wide secretion canaliculi. Numerous long microvilli extend into the latter. Although secretion granules may be quite numerous, there is evidence that many of these granules are not discharged but undergo degradation by lysosomal enzymes. The intercalated ducts are often dilated but excessive distension is probably prevented by bundles of microfilaments in their epithelial cells.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Berridge, M.J., Oschman, J.L.: Transporting epithelia. New York-London: Academic Press 1972
Blair-West, J.R., Coghlan, J.P., Denton, D.A., Nelson, J., Wright, R.D., Yamauchi, A.: Ionic, histological and vascular factors in the reaction of the sheep's parotid to high and low mineralocorticoid status. J. Physiol. (Lond.) 205, 563–578 (1969)
Blood, L.A., Kennerson, A.R., van Lennep, E.W.: Morphology and histochemistry of the raandibular gland of the Australian brush-tail possum Trichosurus vulpecula (Marsupialia). Anat. Rec. (in press) (1977)
Chauncey, H.H., Quintarelli, G.: Localization of acid phosphatase, nonspecific esterases and β-D-galactosidase in parotid and submaxillary glands of domestic and laboratory animals. Amer. J. Anat. 108, 263–293 (1961)
Coats, D.A., Wright, R.D.: Secretion by the parotid gland of the sheep: the relationship between salivary flow and composition. J. Physiol. (Lond.) 135, 611–622 (1957)
Compton, J.S.: A micropuncture study of the effect of mineral active steroids on normal salivary gland function. B. Sc. Hons. Thesis, Univ. Sydney (1976)
Compton, J.S., Dennis, A.R., Hung, R., Kennerson, A.R., van Lennep, E.W., Young, J.A.: The effect of a sodium deficient diet on the striated ducts of the rabbit mandibular gland. Proc. Aust. Physiol. Pharmacol. Soc. 6, 132–133 (1975)
Compton, J.S., Young, J.A.: The concentration of Na+ and K+ in the primary and final saliva of sodium depleted lambs. Proc. Aust. Physiol. Pharmacol. Soc. 7, 143 (1976)
Denton, D.A.: The study of sheep with unilateral parotid fistulae. Quart. J. exp. Physiol. 42, 72–95 (1957)
Fava-de-Moraes, F., Ximenez, I., Radtke, B., Junqueira, L.C.U.: Morphological and chemical studies on the salivary glands and pancreas of two species of Pinnipedia. Ann. Histochim. 11, 199–212 (1966)
Hand, A.R.: The effects of acute starvation on parotid acinar cells. Ultrastructural and cytochemical observations on ad libitum-fed and starved rats. Amer. J. Anat. 135, 71–92 (1972)
Karnovsky, M.J.: A formaldehyde-glutaraldehyde fixative of high osmolality for use in electron microscopy. J. Cell Biol. 27, 137A, (1965)
Kayanja, F.I.B., Scholz, P.: The ultrastructure of the parotid gland of some East African wild ungulates. Anat. Anz. 135, 382–397 (1974)
Kubota, K., Horiuchi, H.: Anatomical studies on the salivary gland of the fur seal. J. Mammal. 44, 349–364 (1963)
Lennep, E.W. van: The glands of the digestive system in the one-humped camel, Camelus dromedarius L. I. The salivary glands. Acta morph. neerl. scand. 1, 286–292 (1957)
Matthews, R.W.: Measurement of protein synthesis in the rat submandibular gland using tritiated tryptophane. Archs. oral Biol. 19, 985–988 (1974)
Messelt, E.B., Blix, A.S.: On the salivary glands of the ringed seal. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 46A, 1–4 (1973)
Oschman, J.L., Berridge, M.J.: Structural and functional aspects of salivary fluid secretion in Calliphora. Tissue Cell 2, 281–310 (1970)
Patterson, J., Lloyd, L.C., Peterson, J.E., Titchen, D.A.: Acinar cells of the ovine parotid salivary gland. J. Anat. (Lond.) 116, 475 (1973)
Patterson, J., Peterson, J.E. Titchen, D.A.: Ultrastructural appearance of acinar cells of the parotid gland of the milk-fed lamb. J. Anat. (Lond.) 121, 408 (1976)
Schneyer, L.H., Young, J.A., Schneyer, C.A.: Salivary secretion of electrolytes. Physiol. Rev. 52, 720–777 (1972)
Shackleford, J.M., Klapper, C.E.: Structure and carbohydrate histochemistry of mammalian salivary glands. Amer. J. Anat. 111, 25–48 (1962)
Shackleford, J.M. Wilborn, W.H.: Structural and histochemical diversity in mammalian salivary glands. Ala. J. med. Sci. 5, 180–203 (1968)
Shackleford, J.M., Wilborn, W.H.: Ultrastructure of bovine parotid glands. J. Morph. 127, 453–474 (1969)
Silver, I.A.: Myoepithelial cells in the mammary and parotid glands. J. Physiol. (Lond.) 125, 8–9 P (1954)
Thaysen, J.H.: Handling of alkali metals by exocrine glands other than the kidney. In: Handbuch der experimentellen Pharmakologie, Bd. 13 (Ussing, H.H., Kruhöffer, P., Thaysen, J.H., Thorn, N.A., eds.). Berlin-Göttingen-Heidelberg: Springer 1960
Thaysen, J.H., Thorn, N.A., Schwartz, I.L.: Excretion of sodium, potassium, chloride and carbon dioxide in human parotid saliva. Amer. J. Physiol. 178, 155–159 (1954)
Young, J.A.: Electrolyte transport by salivary epithelia. Proc. Aust. Physiol. Pharmacol. Soc. 4, 101–121 (1973)
Young, J.A., van Lennep, E.W.: Transport in salivary and salt glands. In: Transport across biological membranes, Vol.4 (Giebisch, G., ed.). Berlin-Göttingen-Heidelberg: Springer 1977a (in press)
Young, J.A., van Lennep, E.W.: The morphology of salivary glands. London-New York: Academic Press 1977b (in press)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
van Lennep, E.W., Kennerson, A.R. & Compton, J.S. The ultrastructure of the sheep parotid gland. Cell Tissue Res. 179, 377–392 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00221108
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00221108