Immunohistochemical localization of kallikrein in salivary glands of the Japanese monkey, Macaca fuscata.

The immunofluorescence staining using anti-human urinary kallikrein polyclonal antiserum was intense in the luminal rim of the striated duct cells, but decreased in the excretory duct cells and was weak in the intercalated duct cells. Western blot analysis demonstrated the monospecificity of the antiserum to glandular kallikrein in Macaca submandibular gland homogenate. The staining was observed to a similar degree as that in salivary glands with long and numerous striated ducts in the following order: the submandibular, the parotid and the sublingual gland. These findings suggest that kallikrein is secreted by exocytosis from the duct cells, mainly from the striated duct cells.