[Histologic-histochemical findings in the salivary glands of guinea pigs after sectioning the chorda tympani].

We investigated Gl. submandibularis and Gl. sublingualis of the guinea-pig 1, 2, 5, 7, 14 und 28 days after section of the Chorda tympani with histological-histochemical methods. The innervation pattern of both glands (Gl. submandibularis: aminergic-cholinergic double innervated; Gl. sublingualis: cholinergic innervated) remains unchanged. In the gland cells the following effects were observed: a) Gl. sublingualis. In the first 3 days apocrine and holocrine secretion phenomena are often seen, suggesting a maximal stimulation of the gland parenchyma. They are accompanied with cellular reactions of the interstitial space. In a second phase a new gland cell population appears that uniformly exhibits intracellular accumulation of secretion products. Involution begins from the 14th day on. Secretory cells are dedifferentiated to intercalated duct cells; autophagic processes help to degradate the accumulated secretion granules. b) Gl. submandibularis. Here the effects are less dramatic. The accumulation of the secretory granules starts as soon as 24 h after section of the Chorda and is maximal between the 5th and 8th p. o. day. Involution of the gland begins from the 14th day on. The accumulated secretory granules show high activities of two histochemically demonstrable enzymes, the cholinesterase and the peroxidase.