Immunohistological characteristics of collagen, laminin and sialoadhesin in the rat submandibular salivary gland during ontogenesis

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of collagen, laminin and sialoadhesin in the rat submandibular salivary gland during postnatal development (1st, 30th,and 60th day) by using various monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) RMC-23 (specific for collagen),a6?1 (specific for laminin) and ED3 (specific for sialoadhezin). These components of extracellular matrix were detected. RMC-23 mAb showed strong positivity to the basal membranes of the ductal system (intercalated, striated and excretory ducts) and of intersticium. Increased expression in the basal membrane of acini during development of glands was noted. Similar immunoreactivity was shown by?mAb but the intersticium showed a negative reaction to 1a6 this antibody. Positive reactivity of ?1a6 mAb of epithelial ductal cells, particularly of the neonatal animals, was found. In contrast to ? 1a6 and RMC23 mAbs, ED3 mAb was increasingly expressed in the myoepithelial cells during ontogenesis. Our findings regarding the immunoreactivity of collagens and laminins are in accordance with the findings of other autors. The very interesting finding of sialoadhesin in myoepithelial cells of the rat submandibular salivary gland, which is not described in literature and needs further investigation. Our results suggest that adhesion molecules and extracellular matrix proteins have an important biochemical role during postnatal development of the submandibular salivary gland.