The autoimmune submandibular sialoadenitis of the NZB/NZW hybrid mice. A light and electron microscopical investigation.

An electron microscopic study of the submandibular salivary gland lesion occurring in the NZB/NZW F1 hybrid mice was performed, and the findings were discussed and correlated to the autoimmune salivary gland disease observed in patients with Sjögren's syndrome. Within the submandibular salivary gland of this mouse strain focal infiltrates of mononuclear inflammatory cells were observed. Lymphoid cells were observed inside the basal lamina of acini and ducts, leading to destruction of these glandular units. The typical duct cell proliferation found in the autoimmune sialoadenitis of Sjögren's syndrome with the formation of the typical epimyoepithelial islands was not found in the submandibular glands of NZB/NZW mice.