IMMUNOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF LAMININ IN DUCT-LIGATED SUBMANDIBULAR GLANDS OF RATS

Immunochemical methods have been used to study the expression of lamin in during experimental atrophy of the submandibular gland of rats caus ed by ductal ligation. In normal submandibular glands, laminin immunor eactivity appeared as continuous linear staining around acini and duct s. In the ligated glands, it exhibited an irregular pattern and intens ity. Staining was usually stronger around small ducts and acini, which were most prominent in glands ligated for 30 days. Immunoblot analysi s showed that the laminin of the rat submandibular gland contains band s that correspond to the EHS alpha 1, beta 1 and gamma 1 chains, and t hat the composition of the laminin chains does not change during the a trophy.