Structure and histochemistry of the sublingual salivary glands of the one-humped camel (Camelus dromedarius)

Abstract

Morphometric, histological and histochemical studies were carried out on the sublingual salivary glands of the Arabian camel (Camelus dromedarius). The glands are of the tubulo-acinar type and consist of many lobules that are composed of two types of cells, mucoserous and seromucous. The mucoserous cells form the main secretory units of the gland but seromucous cells are much more seldom and form associated acini. The former cells secrete and elaborate large quantites of neutral mucosubstances, sialomucins and little sulphomucins while only the apical portion of the latter cells shows weak to moderate activity for neutral and acid mucosubstances. The histoenzymological tests employed here detected a considerable activity of alkaline phosphatase, succinic dehydrogenase, aminopeptidase and non-specific esterases, but weak activities of cytochrome oxidase, peroxidase and no activities of triacylglycerol lipase, ß-glucoronidase and amylase. The functional significance of these findings is discussed.