[Reaction of the rat submandibular gland to repeated amputations of the lower and upper incisors (a morphometric study)].

It has been stated in experiments performed on Wister rats, that periodic amputation both of lower and upper incisor teeth results in hypertrophy of the submandibular salivary glands. However, when the upper incisors are extirpated, the enlargement of the gland is less pronounced, especially in the males. The leading role in the reaction plays the increasing size of the acinar cells, but certain ductal elements (especially striated ducts) also react by increasing their diameter in response to the trauma both in the lower and upper incisors.