Salivary glands in long-term alloxan-diabetic rats. A quantitative light and electron-microscopic study.

Fifty untreated diabetic animals were compared with 58 age-matched non-diabetic controls. Reduced salivary gland weight was evident after one month's diabetes and this was unchanged after 12 months of diabetes. Submandibular/sublingual gland weight was proportional to the reduced body weight in the diabetic rats. Parotid gland weight, however, was proportionally more reduced. Only diabetic rats had lipid inclusions in the acinar cells of their submandibular glands and the morphometrically estimated amount of inclusions was positively correlated to the blood glucose level. Acinar cell size was significantly increased in long-term diabetic rats as compared with short-term diabetic rats and controls. Capillary basement membrane width was significantly increased in long-term diabetic rats compared with age-matched controls and with short-term diabetic rats. Thus, both the degree and duration of diabetes have a major effect on salivary gland morphology in alloxan diabetic rats.