Localization of alkaline phosphatase in the submaxillary gland of the rat

Enzyme Histochemistry and its Application to the Study of the Mixed Tumors of the Salivary Glands

The activity of several hydrolytic (acid and alkaline phosphatase, ATP-ase) and oxidative (lactic, succinic, isocitric, glutamic, ((-glycerophosphate, glucose-6-phosphate and β-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenases, NADH2 and NADPH2 tetrazolium reductases) enzymes has been studied using histochemical methods in four mixed tumors (pleomorphic adenomas) of human salivary glands: one of epithelial type, one of myxoid and chondroid type and two composed of patches of epithelial cells set in a myxoid stroma. Acid phosphatase showed little activity and alkaline phosphatase and ATP-ase none at all, either in the epithelial and in myxochondroid areas. However, epithelial areas contained clumps of cells strongly reactive for alkaline phosphatase and ATP-ase, sometimes arranged in a duct-like pattern around a homogeneous intercellular substance, also strongly reactive. Of the oxidative enzymes, NADH2-diaphorase and lactic dehydrogenase were strongly active, NADPH2-diaphorase and isocitric dehydrogenase were moderately so and the other dehydrogenases poorly active. There were no detectable differences in enzyme activity pattern between epithelial and myxoid or chondroid areas of the mixed tumors. In general the level of activity of the oxidative enzymes in the mixed tumors was intermediate between that of the acinar cells and that of the cells of the striated excretory ducts of the salivary glands.

Myoepithelium of salivary glands

In salivary glands and other exocrine organs, there are starfish-shaped cells that lie between the basal lamina and the acinar and ductal cells. These have structural features of both epithelium and smooth muscle cells, and so are called myoepithelial cells. Their functions include contraction when the gland is stimulated to secrete, compressing or reinforcing the underlying parenchymal cells, thus aiding in the expulsion of saliva and preventing damage to the other cells. They also may aid in the propagation of secretory and other stimuli. Their common developmental origin with the basal cells of the larger ducts is displayed in the mature glands by shared structural and immunohistochemical features, but most such basal cells do not have the distinguishing features of myoepithelial cells, such as myofibrils. Although myoepithelial cells can be identified by light microscopy through enzyme histochemistry and special stains and immunohistochemistry for their myofibrils, these techniques can be misleading in salivary gland neoplasms. Thus, the most reliable means of identifying neoplastic myoepithelial cells is with a combination of histochemistry and electron microscopy. The extent to which these cells are derived from undifferentiated stem cells in both normal and neoplastic growth is controversial. The presentation here of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of well-differentiated myoepithelial cells in mitotic division indicates that stem cells are not necessarily the only source of myoepithelial cells in the later stages of salivary gland development or in neoplasia.

Immunohistochemical localization by monoclonal antibodies of S-100 alpha and beta proteins in mixed tumours and adenomas of the skin

A study using monoclonal antibodies was made to evaluate the immunohistochemical localization of S-100 protein subunits alpha and beta in a total of 41 mixed tumours and adenomas of sweat gland origin. Normal eccrine glands showed positive staining for S-100 alpha in the secretory portion and in epithelial cells located in the transitional area from the coiled duct to the intraepidermal duct, as well as granular deposition of S-100 beta at the luminal surface of the secretory coil and duct. The myoepithelial cells were negative for S-100 alpha and beta. In mixed tumours, the tumour cells were round or oval in shape and displayed markedly positive staining for S-100 alpha and slightly positive or negative staining for S-100 beta. S-100 alpha staining in clear cell tumours was typically more intense than in any other sweat gland tumour. It is possible that clear cell tumours may arise from the transitional area of sweat glands. Spindle cell tumours displayed on abundance of S-100 alpha subunits but little S-100 beta. Occasional spindle cells located in the outer layer of tubular structures within tumours gave positive S-100 alpha staining. This result was different from that seen in pleomorphic salivary adenomas. Cells having undergone chondroidal changes revealed a positive S-100 reaction.

Different expression of alkaline phosphatase in subclones of human neoplastic salivary duct cell line

Human neoplastic salivary cell line (HSGc) and its subclones express alkaline phosphatase (AP) which is sensitive to L-phenylalanine but insensitive to L-homoarginine. Electrophoretic analysis demonstrates two distinct bands of AP, one (sb-1) is heat-stable and another (sb-2) is rather heat-labile and faster mobility than sb-1. The AP activity, especially sb-2, shows high level in less-differentiated clone (HSGc-C5) with increased growth rate but low level in nontumorigenic and well-differentiated clone (HSGc-E1) as compared to parent HSGc. This may suggest that the AP is a possible marker for identification of undifferentiated state in HSGc. This study also indicates that dibutyryl cAMP produces an increase of heat-labile AP in these clones.

The identification of myoepithelial cells in human salivary glands. A review and comparison of light microscopical methods

Myoepithelial cells have frequently been implicated in salivary gland tumour histogenesis. A major problem has been the reliable identification of these cells at the light microscopical level, both in tumours and in normal salivary glands. Many methods have been advocated, often with comparatively little evaluation in normal human tissue and with limited comparison between techniques. This paper reviews the application of histological staining techniques, enzyme histochemistry and immunocytochemistry with antibodies to actin, myosin and keratins. The only reliable method was immunocytochemistry with an antibody to smooth muscle myosin, with immunofluorescence on frozen tissue and immunoenzyme labelling on methacarn-fixed/paraffin-processed material. Formalin fixation did not permit successful staining. Monoclonal antibodies to specific keratin polypeptides may prove to be a useful label of myoepithelial cells but at the present time the available cytokeratin antibodies preferentially stain duct cell populations.

Histochemistry of hydrolytic enzymes in resting submandibular glands of rabbits

The distribution of several hydrolytic enzymes was investigated in rabbit submandibular glands at both the light and electron microscopical levels. Glands were fixed by either immersion or perfusion fixation with a variety of fixatives containing 1-2% glutaraldehyde and 2-4% formaldehyde in 0.1 M cacodylate buffer at pH 7.2. Light microscopically, the acinar cells showed some staining for ATPase, acid phosphatase and nonspecific esterases but showed weak staining for thiamine pyrophosphatase. Acid phosphatase staining occurred most strongly in granular tubule cells. Staining for esteroproteases was confined to the periluminal rims of intercalary and striated ducts. Alkaline phosphatase was very sensitive to glutaraldehyde and was confined to myoepithelial cells. Electron microscopical observations revealed the presence of acid phosphatase reaction product in lysosomes, immature granules and in GERL-like structures, the last being much more conspicuous in the granular tubule cells. ATPase reaction product was localized to the basal and luminal plasma membranes and lumina of both acinar and granular tubule cells. The Golgi complex of these two types of cells exhibited only moderate amounts of reaction product for thiamine pyrophosphatase. Alkaline phosphatase activity, on the other hand, was exclusively localized to myoepithelial cells in their plasma membranes and sometimes in the nuclear envelope.

Differentiation of myoepithelial cells in the developing rat sublingual gland

Sublingual glands of rats were prepared for light and electron microscopy and for the histochemical demonstration of myofibrils and alkaline phosphatase (AkPase) activity. Through 17 days in utero, the epithelial cells of the glandular rudiment are relatively undifferentiated. At 18 days, the inner cells of the terminal buds begin to assemble around a lumen and accumulate secretory granules, while the outer cells flatten and form long processes. At 19 days, many of the outer cells have dilated cisternae of rough endoplasmic reticulum engorged with finely granular material. At 20 days, some of the outer cells have thin bands of microfilaments in their processes, suggesting that they are differentiating into myoepithelial cells (MEC). Though the secretory cells are almost mature at birth, only a few of the MEC have myofibrils detected with an actomyosin reaction, and AkPase activity is very weak. Progressive increases in AkPase activity and in myofibril size and number continue until the acini and intercalated ducts are fully invested with mature MEC at about 14 days after birth. Thus, the MEC and secretory cells begin to differentiate at the same time, but the MEC subsequently differentiate asynchronously with the secretory cells and with each other. Although the sublingual MEC are only partly differentiated in the newborn rat, their overall development occurs somewhat more rapidly than in the adjacent submandibular gland.

Response of the rat submaxillary gland to pilocarpine: a quantitative analysis of gross and microscopic changes

The gross weight, gross volume, and the relative volume of certain microscopic components were determined for the submaxillary glands of rats given injections of pilocarpine. On comparison with control rats, there were significant differences in the weight and volume of the whole glands and in the relative volume of the microscopic components.

Fine structure and possible secretory mechanism of rat palatine glands

Electron microscopic studies of the soft and hard palates of adult male rats, removed before and after stimulation, have been used in the study of possible mechanisms of elaboration and discharge of mucin by the tubuloacinar glands within the palate. Results suggest that both the endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi apparatus are directly involved in the elaboration of the secretory product.

Fine structure of the myoepithelium of the eccrine sweat glands of man

The secretory coils of glutaraldehyde-osmium tetroxide-fixed and Epon-Araldite-embedded eccrine sweat glands from the palms of young men were studied with the electron microscope. The myoepithelial cells lie on the epithelial side of the basement membrane and abut other epithelial elements directly. The irregularly serrated base of the cell has dense thickenings along the plasma membrane which alternate with zones bearing pits; the smooth apical surface lacks dense thickenings, is studded with pits, and conjoined to secretory cells by occasional desmosomes. Masses of myofilaments, 50 A in diameter, fill most of the cell and are associated with irregular dense zones. In cross-section the arrangement of the myofilaments seems identical with that of the I band of striated muscle, and the dense zone has typical Z band structure. A few microtubules and cytoplasmic cores bearing profiles of the endoplasmic reticulum, filamentous mitochondria, and glycogen granules penetrate the fibrillar masses and run parallel to the oriented myofilaments. In the perinuclear zone, Golgi membranes, rough- and smooth-surfaced elements of the endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, glycogen, microtubules, lipid, pigment, and dense granules are variable components in the cytoplasm. The interrelationships of the myoepithelial cells with the secretory cells suggest that the former may act as regulators, controlling the flow of metabolites to the secretory epithelium.