SALIVARY-GLANDS, GLYCOCONJUGATES AND DIABETES-MELLITUS

It is generally accepted that glycoconjugates secreted by salivary gla nds are important in the protection of the oral environment. Studies w ith diabetic rodents have shown that their salivary glands are adverse ly affected. Little effort has been made to determine whether altered synthesis and/or secretion of glycoconjugates occur in salivary glands of diabetic individuals, either human or non-human. The major salivar y glands of male Swiss Webster mice, rendered diabetic with alloxan, w ere examined and compared to controls. Sections of major salivary glan ds were examined using a battery of non-lectin staining methods for gl ycoconjugates. Granular duct diameters were measured in sections of th e submandibular glands (SM) from controls and all experimental groups. Neutral glycoconjugate staining in SM acini of glands from diabetic a nimals was depressed while staining of acidic glycoconjugates increase d. Neutral glycoconjugate staining in granular ducts of SM glands of d iabetic animals was depressed, as were granule content and granular du ct diameters. Induced diabetes did not affect staining of neutral glyc oconjugates in parotid glands but staining of acidic non-sulfated glyc oconjugates appeared to increase. There were no apparent differences i n neutral or acidic glycoconjugate staining of sublingual (SL) glands of diabetic or control mice.