Aging of human palatal salivary glands: a histomorphometric study

The aim of the present study was to examine age-related changes in the pare nchymal and stromal components of palatal salivary glands of healthy subjec ts. Palatal salivary gland biopsies were obtained from 120 autopsies and we re divided into young, adult, and old age groups. Histomorphometric measure ments were performed on hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stained slides. Parench ymal components included acini and ducts, and stromal components included c onnective tissue, blood and lymphatic vessels, inflammatory infiltrate, and adipose tissue. The mean volume fraction of each component in each age gro up was calculated. Statistical analysis was performed by one-way ANOVA and Tamhane tests. The mean volume fraction of the acinar component demonstrate d a significant age-related decrease of 48% (P < 0.001). The mean volume fr actions of the ducts and of all the stromal components demonstrated a signi ficant age-related increase (P < 0.001). The inflammatory infiltrate compon ent had the highest increase with aging (1471%), followed by the ducts (177 %), blood and lymphatic vessels (138%), adipose tissue (130%), and connecti ve tissue (60%). These age-related changes, the first to be reported in pal atal salivary glands from healthy subjects, are different from those descri bed in the labial salivary glands, especially in regard to the significant increase in the parenchymal ductal component, as well as in the stromal inf lammatory infiltrate and adipose tissue components. It can be suggested tha t these changes could have important implications regarding the age-related function of these glands. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserv ed.