[Structure of gaps between the secretory cells of the terminal portions of the palatine salivary glands].

By means of transmissive and scanning electron microscopy methods intercellular interconnections in the rat palatine salivary glands have been investigated. The secretory cells of the gland are divided by clefts different in their form and width. Some of them are very narrow, since the neighbouring cells are situated very near to each other, while others--are considerably wider and numerous microvilli are found in their lumen. The former are named clefts of proximal contacting and situate between rather vast lateral surfaces of cells, the latter (syngonal clefts)--in places where three neighbouring cells touch each other by their angles. A suggestion is discussed that the syngonal clefts are penetrable and can serve as potential pathways for free juxta-cellular transport of fluid from interstitium into lumens of the terminal parts. Hence, they can be considered at a structural base of filtering function of the salivary glands.