Acinii salivari

FIG. 25.1Schematic diagram of typical salivary

gland.A,Serous endpiece;A,in cross
section.B,Seromucous demilune;B,in cross
section.C,Mucous endpiece;C,in cross
section.D,Intercalated duct;D,in cross
section.E,Striated duct;E,in cross
section.F,Terminal excretory duct.(Modified
from Ten Cate AR:Oral histology,ed 2, St Louis,
1985, Mosby.)

o Saliva is a complex glandular secretion made by salivary glands found in the

underlying tissues present in the oral cavity.
o The salivary glands produce about 1250 ml of saliva per day. Saliva is a mixture of
the secretions from the serous acini, mucus acini and mixed acini of the salivary glands, the
composition of which is modified by the glands' duct system.
o The basic unit of salivary glands are clusters of cells called acini, which secrete a
fluid containing: (R. Bowen, 2002)
o water
o electrolytes
o mucus
o enzymes
o Most of the saliva is produced by the 3 major salivary glands, but a small contribution
is made by the numerous small labial, buccal, and palatal glands which line the mouth.
( Snell, 2004, p.773,786-788)

Two basic types of acinar epithelial cells exist: (Martini, 2006, p. 870-873) (Edgar, 2004)
o serous cells, which secrete a watery fluid, essentially devoid of mucous
o Serous acini:
o Dense, basophilic, PAS+ intracytoplasmic secretory granules containing
amylase
o Have central lumen that is rarely visible by H&E

o mucous cells, which produce a very mucus-rich secretion

o Larger than serous acini
o Irregular pattern
o Cells have abundant cytoplasm with clear mucin, well rounded basal nuclei,
and are arranged around empty lumina
o Produce acid (positive for Alcian blue and mucicarmine) and neutral (PAS+)
sialomucins
Although these cells form a grapelike or tubular endpiece, in cross section they are
described as pyramidal cells (Fig. 25-1). The outer edge or base of the cells rests on a
basement membrane between the cells and the connective tissue. Within this connective
tissue are the nerves and blood vessels necessary for the various aspects of cellular
activity. The apex of the cells faces the center of the tube or grapelike structure. The base of
the cells is surrounded by connective tissue, and partially surrounding each secretory
acinus is a myoepithelial cell
 Seromucous acini

In glands that have both mucous and serous components, you can see the separate types
of acini, and you can also see them joined together as mixed or seromucous acini. In a
seromucous acinus, the mucous cells form a tubelike structure, and on the end of the tube a
group of serous cells forms into a half-moon cluster. These are referred to as serous
demilunes. The serous demilune cells secrete their product between the cell walls of the
underlying mucous cells and their secretion enters the lumen of the gland. As the
term seromucous suggests, these acini produce both mucous and serous secretions
(see Fig. 25-1).

The walls of the acini surround a central cavity known as an alveolus; the
intercellular spaces between the cells in the end piece open into the alveolus which is the
beginning of the ductal system.
serous secreting cells are arranged in a rough spherical form
mucous secreting cells are arranged in a tubular form with a larger lumen.
(Edgar, 2004)
In general the secretory end piece consisting of acinar cells represent about 80% of
the gland mass.
The secretory acinus produces the primary saliva, which is isotonic with an ionic
composition resembling that of plasma.

. Stimulation of the parasympathetic nerve, or mainly muscarinic cholinergic receptors,

initiates intracellular second messenger events of acinar cells, the signal transduction
system involves the release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores. The increase in intracellular
Ca2+ levels leads to the Cl channels at the apical membrane to open and an influx of Cl
into the lumen. Hence the change in electronegativity by Cl influx causes Na+ to diffuse
across the cation-permeable tight junction between acinar cells to preserve electroneutrality
within the lumen. The net influx of NaCl creates an osmotic gradient across the acinus,
which draws water from the blood supply via a tight junction. Thus, saliva secreted in the
lumen (primary saliva) is an isotonic plasma-like fluid.
Parotid gland

largest of the 3 glands

o consists of serous acinar cells which, secretes a thin, watery and amylase-only
produces approximately 25% of saliva
o
 Submandibular gland

o consists of serous and mucous acinar cells which,

o produces a more viscous and mucin-rich saliva (mixed serous and mucous
secretion).
o produces the most saliva, approximately 70%.
o Serous cells are frequently located at the periphery of mucous acini as crescent-
shaped cells (arrow)

Sublingual gland

is the smallest of the 3 glands (one-fifth the size of the submandibular gland)

o consists of mucous acinar cells

o secrete fluid (viscous mucin-rich saliva) that is predominantly mucous in character,
however it is categorized as a mixed gland (sublingual gland secretes more mucin than the
submandibular gland).
o approximately 5% of the saliva is produced by the gland.
 Minor Salivary Glands

these glands are dotted throughout the mouth within the lamina propia and oral mucosa.

o produce less than 10% of the total volume of saliva but secrete a large fraction of the
total secretion of saliva protein
o consists of mixed glands largely made up of mucous acinar cells
o their secretion is usually mucus in nature.

Pathophysiology

The basement membrane protein perlecan/HSPG2 (heparan sulfate proteoglycan 2)

triggers differentiation of salivary gland cells into self assembling acini-like structures that
express essential biomarkers and secrete alpha amylase (Tissue Eng Part A
2009;15:3309)
Serous glands produce thin watery fluid containing alpha amylase, which digests
starches
Mucinous glands produce viscous mucinous fluid higher in glycoproteins, which
provides a lubricating film on oral mucosa

Bibliografie:
http://cariology.wikifoundry.com/page/Formation+of+Saliva
http://histologyolm.stevegallik.org/node/476
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19382872
http://pocketdentistry.com/25-salivary-glands/