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.