FINE-STRUCTURE OF THE PAROTID-GLAND IN TREE SHREW (TUPAIA-GLIS)

The parotid glands of Tupaia glis were examined by light and transmiss ion electron microscopy. The acinar cells were seromucous in nature, a nd contained many acidophilic granules with strong affinity for period ic acid-Schiff (PAS) and weak affinity for alcian blue (AB). These gra nules consisted of a fine granular matrix of moderate density in which a denser corpuscles or semilunar materials were present. Intercalated duct cells had a few fine vesicles, vacuoles and very few dense granu les in the apical region. In occasional epithelial cells, acidophilic, PAS-positive and AS-negative bodies with moderate density were observ ed in the supranuclear region. The striated ducts consisted of columna r light and dark cells containing round or small ovoid granules of mod erate density and did not show the granular duct as seen in the paroti d glands of kobe mole and tenrec which are placed in the order insecti vora.