Microliths in normal salivary glands of cat investigated by light and electron microscopy

A perspective of comparative salivary and breast pathology. Part I: microstructural aspects, adaptations and cellular events

This is the first part of a review comparing the pathology of salivary and mammary glands. Here, less obvious similarities and differences in functional histology and their influences on pathology are examined with emphasis on myoepithelial cells, stromal components, analogues of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue, steroid receptors, and intraparenchymal cells of monocytic lineage. Particular cell phenotypes (oncocytic, apocrine, neuroendocrine and clear) are critically evaluated and responses to atrophy, infarction and fine-needle aspiration biopsy procedures are highlighted together with aspects of metaplasia, regeneration, ageing and microcalcification. Areas of controversy or uncertainty which may benefit from further investigations are also discussed.

Non-specific histopathological changes in kidney with renal tubular dysgenesis

Absence of proximal convoluted tubules (APCT) is a specific pathomorphological change found in kidney with renal tubular dysgenesis (RTD). Non-specific structural abnormalities in the kidney with this disorder have rarely been reported. The aim of this study was to detect non-specific histopathological changes (NSHC) in RTD kidney, to evaluate their incidence, and to establish a possible relationship to various etiological-pathogenic variants of RTD. Kidneys of 12 patients with RTD diagnosed in 9 Israeli hospitals were studied. Paraffin sections were examined using histological, histochemical, and immunohistochemical stains as well as morphometry. APCT was found to be associated with microcalcifications (MC) (66.6%), medullary ray nodules (MRN) (16.6%), extramedullary hematopoiesis (EH) (16.6%), and multinuclear giant cell (MGC) reaction (8.3%). MC contained calcium oxalate (33.3%) and calcium phosphate (carbonate) (33.3%), and were predominantly formed prenatally. MRN were also formed before birth. Definitive differences regarding NSHC character and frequency were found in diverse etiological-pathogenic variants of RTD. APCT in kidney with RTD is not infrequently associated with histopathological changes, which have extremely rarely been reported in prenatal and early postnatal kidney. MRN and EH in an autosomal recessive (AR) variant of RTD are more frequent than in twin-twin transfusion (TTT) syndrome.

Microliths in the parotid of ferret investigated by electron microscopy and microanalysis

The present investigation is an attempt to determine the occurrence, elemental composition and formation of microliths in the parotid of ferret. Parotids from four normal ferrets were examined by electron microscopy and X-ray microanalysis. Crystalline microliths were found in phagosomes of acinar cells, which occasionally contained secretory material, and in phagosomes situated between mitochondria of striated ductal cells. Crystalline microliths and microliths that consisted of granular material either without crystals or mixed with a component of crystals were found in lumina, where they were often associated with cellular debris. The crystals contained calcium and phosphorus. Phagy and stagnation related to pockets of inefficient secretory activity have been previously found to be features of the parotid of ferret. Thus, possibly persistent degradation of redundant cellular material, particularly secretory granules, in phagosomes results in accumulation of calcium and leads to calcified microliths, whereas consolidation of stagnant debris extracellularly does not involve such accumulation and leads to non-calcified or mixed microliths.

Microenvironmental adaptations in the parotid of ferret investigated by electron microscopy

Previous histochemical investigations suggested that the microenvironment in the parotid of ferret would foster microlithiasis because of a combination of pockets of inefficient secretion, brisk phagy and secretory material rich in calcium. We have undertaken the present ultrastructural investigation in an attempt to provide corroborative evidence. Parotids from four normal ferrets were examined by electron microscopy. Phagosomes in which there was cellular debris and occasionally secretory granules were present in acinar cells, which indicates crinophagy, and residual bodies were present in ductal cells. Atrophic parenchymal cells, degenerate parenchymal cells and apoptotic bodies were present. Cellular debris and secretory material were present in lumina, which indicates stagnation. The results indicate that removal of redundant secretory material and cells and low flow of saliva are features of the parotid of ferret and support the concept of pockets of inefficient secretory activity.

Histological and histochemical observations on salivary microliths in ferret

The fortuitous observation of salivary microliths in ferret was pursued in the present investigation. Major salivary glands obtained post-mortem from mature ferrets of either sex were examined with the use of histology and light microscopical histochemistry for calcium, protein, amino acids, mucosubstances and hydrolytic enzymes. Microliths were detected in most parotids, but were absent from submandibular and sublingual glands. The microliths were usually seen in lumens, and occasionally in parenchyma and interstices. They were variably stained for calcium, tryptophan, and neutral and acidic mucosubstances, similarly to acinar or ductal secretory granules. Unlike secretory granules, microliths showed autofluorescence, high levels of tyrosine and a low concentration of -SS- groups. Acid phosphatase and beta-glucuronidase reaction surrounded non-luminal microliths. The present data establish ferret as a new model for the investigation of salivary microliths and do not support the notion of microliths being almost absent from the parotid. Probably there is secretory inactivity in ferret parotid and this fosters the formation and accumulation of microliths containing calcium and disintegrated secretory material.

Organic secretory products, adaptive responses and innervation in the parotid gland of ferret: A histochemical study

To qualify cellular events of possible pathophysiological significance in the parotid of ferret, tissue obtained post-mortem from mature animals of either sex was examined by light microscopical histochemistry for calcium, protein, amino acids, mucosubstances and hydrolases, and by neurohistology. Calcium was localised in acinar cells replete with granules containing protein, disulphides and usually carboxylated mucosubstances. Acid phosphatase activity was basally concentrated in the acinar cells. The granular luminal region of striated ductal cells showed protein, tryptophan, disulphides, neutral mucosubstances, and E600-sensitive esterase and Naphthol AS-D chloroacetate esterase activities, whereas their basal region showed acid phosphatase activity. Strong periluminal activity of acid phosphatase and E600-resistant esterase characterised the collecting ducts. Cholinesterase activity was associated with an extensive network of nerve fibres embracing parenchyma. Catecholamine fluorescence was not seen. beta-glucuronidase reactive macrophages abounded in the interstices. The results suggest that while the acini in the parotid of ferret secrete polyionic glycoproteins, shielded by calcium, the striated ducts secrete tryptophan-rich products comprising neutral glycoproteins and showing proteolytic activity. Innervation is of the cholinergic type and parenchymal lysosomal activity, possibly related to autophagy of stored secretory products and heterophagy of luminal material, is brisk. Macrophages contribute to maintaining the glandular microenvironment, wherein secretory activity appears to be lethargic.

Phenotypes in canalicular adenoma of human minor salivary glands reflect the interplay of altered secretory product, absent neuro-effector relationships and the diversity of the microenvironment

AIMS

Uncertainty about the factors influencing phenotypes in salivary canalicular adenoma prompted the present investigation.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Specimens of canalicular adenoma from 15 patients were examined with the use of histology, histochemistry for protein, mucosubstances and pigments, nerve staining and immunocytochemistry for cytoskeleton components. The tumours consisted largely of simple cells lining tubules that were occasionally cystic or branching and budding, and were set in loose, vascular and often haemorrhagic stroma. Other phenotypes recognized were mucous cells, apocrine-like cells, pigmented cells, microliths and stromal macrophages, detected in 26.6%, 20%, 33.3%, 20% and 53. 3% of the patients, respectively. Simple cells showed moderate levels of -SH groups and strong immunoreactivity for 'simple' epithelial phenotype cytokeratin. The simple cells lining cystic tubules showed additional immunoreactivity for 'stratified' epithelial phenotype cytokeratin, possibly an adaptation to mechanical pressure. Lumina showed variable levels of neutral and carboxylated glycoproteins, and chondroitin sulphate. Stroma showed high levels of chondroitin sulphate and hyaluronic acid. Mucous cells showed high levels of -SS- groups and nonsulphated glycoproteins. Apocrine-like cells contained lipofuscin. Pigmented cells contained haemosiderin, possibly a consequence of localized iron overload. Microliths contained mucosubstances. Macrophages often contained lipofuscin. No nerves were found in relation to the tumours.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggest that, contrary to popular belief, phenotypes in canalicular adenoma do not reflect histogenetic concepts but rather may derive from the interplay between an altered secretory product, consisting of glycosaminoglycan and an immature form of glycoprotein, the lack of neuro-effector relationships and the different microenvironments throughout the tumour.

Histochemical and biochemical determination of calcium in salivary glands of cat

Although feline salivary glands have been used in investigations on secretion and microlithiasis and both processes involved calcium, nothing is known about its distribution in these glands. Therefore we have demonstrated the presence of calcium by a histochemical technique using glyoxal bis(2-hydroxyanil) and a biochemical technique using dry ashing. The histochemical technique stained serous acinar cells weakly and rarely found mucous acinar cells strongly in the parotid gland, mucous acinar cells moderately to strongly and serous acinar cells weakly in the sublingual gland, and central and demilunar acinar cells moderately to strongly in the submandibular gland. The biochemical technique revealed less calcium in the parotid than in the submandibular and sublingual glands. Both techniques revealed a decrease of calcium in submandibular and sublingual glands following parasympathetic stimulation. The histochemical distribution of calcium, which corresponds to that of acinar secretory glycoprotein, and the loss of calcium following parasympathetic stimulation, which causes release of secretory granules, indicate the presence of calcium in secretory granules. The concentration of calcium in the different types of acinar cell corresponds to the acidity of the secretory glycoprotein and suggests that calcium is present as a cationic shield to allow the condensation of polyionic glycoprotein in secretory granules.