A HISTOLOGICAL, LECTIN AND S-100 HISTOCHEMICAL-STUDY OF THE DEVELOPING PRENATAL HUMAN SUBLINGUAL SALIVARY-GLAND

Lectin and S-100 protein histochemistry during fetal growth and develo pment (10-38th gestational weeks) of these glands was studied. The his tological development of glandular structures followed the known patte rn for other salivary glands. Using biotinylated lectins Ulex europeus -I, Dolichos biflorus, Glycine maximus (soyabean), Helix pomatia, Arac his hypogaea (peanut) and Triticum vulgare (wheatgerm), the binding le vel and, by implication, the concentration of associated specific olig osaccharide available for binding was low at 10 to 19 weeks and genera lly higher as maturity increased through the middle and late stages of development. 8-100 protein reactivity was demonstrated in the cytopla sm of basophil acinar cells of the gland primordia from their origin. Stereological analysis of these developing salivary glands showed a hi ghly significant progressive increase in proportional gland volume occ upied by acini from 25% at 20 seeks to 60% at 38 weeks (p < 0.0001), a nd a comparable halving of the relative gland volume occupied by conne ctive tissue in the same period (p < 0.0001). The extent of these chan ges depended upon the stage of differentiation and maturation of the g lands but by the late stage of fetal development, histochemical reacti ons were similar to known adult patterns.