共培养系统下骨髓间充质干细胞分化为颌下腺腺泡细胞的实验研究

目的 研究使用共培养系统将骨髓间充质于细胞分化为有分泌功能的颌下腺腺泡细胞的可行性.方法 分离成年SD大鼠骨髓间充质干细胞于体外培养、纯化和鉴定,同时分离新生SD大鼠的颌下腺细胞于体外培养、纯化和鉴定,取颌下腺腺泡细胞第二代和间充质干细胞第一代置于共培养系统诱导干细胞定向分化.使用免疫细胞化学法分析骨髓间充质干细胞是否表达淀粉酶抗体.结果 纯化后的颌下腺腺泡细胞呈铺路石样形态,原代至第5代培养基及细胞内均可检测到淀粉酶表达;体外培养的骨髓间充质干细胞呈梭形,呈束状、漩涡状排列,可成功诱导成脂肪细胞,油红-O染色显示含有脂滴;共培养后的骨髓间充质干细胞表达淀粉酶抗体,约30%的骨髓间充质干细胞在共培养1周后转化为腺泡细胞,约50%的骨髓间充质干细胞在共培养2周后转化为腺泡细胞.结论 成功构建大鼠颌下腺腺泡细胞和骨髓间充质干细胞的体外培养体系,并证明大鼠骨髓间充质干细胞具有转化为腺泡细胞的能力,因此骨髓间充质干细胞将有望应用于涎腺组织工程.     

小鼠骨骼肌卫星细胞的原代培养和鉴定

目的 探讨小鼠骨骼肌卫星细胞的原代培养方法及鉴定技术. 方法 取新生小鼠后肢肌,采用混合酶消化法获得细胞悬液,经Percoll分离,结合差速贴壁法提纯骨骼肌卫星细胞.倒置显微镜观察细胞形态及增殖状况,绘制细胞生长曲线,采用结蛋白、α-肌动蛋白免疫细胞化学方法鉴定骨骼肌卫星细胞. 结果 原代骨骼肌卫星细胞呈圆形,培养1d后逐渐贴壁生长,细胞分布均匀,多呈圆形,48h后开始增殖,此后细胞体积逐渐增大并开始分裂,镜下可见2～3个或多个细胞成串排列,3～4d后细胞进入对数生长期,此时圆形细胞占优势,可见多处局部细胞克隆呈簇样生长.培养7～10d细胞生长至单层且成片分布(50%～70%),梭形或纺锤形细胞增多,但仍有部分细胞呈圆形,12～14d后细胞增殖减缓.免疫细胞化学染色显示,分离得到的小鼠骨骼肌卫星细胞表达肌源性标志物结蛋白联合骨骼肌特异性蛋白α-肌动蛋白. 结论 采用混合酶消化、Pereoll分离结合差速贴壁法可培养出高纯度的骨骼肌卫星细胞,结蛋白和骨骼肌肌动蛋白免疫细胞化学染色可更有效地鉴定骨骼肌卫星细胞.     

涎腺肿瘤中增殖细胞核抗原、p53与细胞凋亡关系的研究

 目的 探讨涎腺肿瘤中增殖细胞核抗原(PCNA),p53和细胞凋亡间的关系。方法 采用脱氧核糖核酸末断转移酶介导的dUTP缺口末端标记(TUNEL)技术,免疫组化染色和HE染色对18例多形性腺瘤和52例恶性涎腺肿瘤中PCNA、p53和细胞凋亡进行观察和比较。结果 恶性涎腺肿瘤的凋亡细胞指数和增殖细胞指数明显高于多形性腺瘤(P＜0.05)。结论 在恶性涎腺肿瘤中,增殖细胞和凋亡细胞明显增多且伴有p53的过度表达;PCNA和p53的表达在涎腺肿瘤的发生及恶性转化中起着重要作用。     

体外培养大鼠触须毛囊真皮鞘细胞的生物学特性及其超微结构

目的：探讨大鼠触须毛囊真皮鞘细胞体外培养生长特性和电镜下超微结构特征。方法：显微分离大鼠触须毛囊真皮鞘，组织块法原代培养获得真皮鞘细胞，免疫组化和免疫荧光染色进行细胞鉴定，MTT法测定细胞生长曲线，并通过扫描电镜和透射电镜观察其超微结构。结果：真皮鞘细胞原代培养5—7d仅有少量细胞由组织块中长出，培养14d方可传代。传代后细胞呈克隆样丛状生长，细胞丛相互连接呈网状，3～5d传一代，可连续传10代以上。扫描电镜见毛囊真皮鞘内有许多散在的纺锤形细胞，胞体丰满，表面不光滑，有较长的细胞突起。透射电镜下见细胞核大，富含常染色质，核仁明显，胞浆中细胞器少，胞膜下可见由细丝样结构组成的致密斑。结论：大鼠触须毛囊真皮鞘细胞原代生长迟缓，传代后细胞增殖旺盛，其超微结构特点提示该细胞分化程度较低，属于成体中较为幼稚的间充质细胞。     

涎腺腺泡细胞癌36例临床病理分析

目的 探讨涎腺腺泡细胞癌的临床病理学特征、诊断和鉴别诊断、治疗和预后.方法 复习36例涎腺腺泡细胞癌手术切除标本的病理切片并做相应的免疫组织化学染色,结合临床资料进行分析.结果 涎腺腺泡细胞癌男女发病均等,各年龄组均可发病,好发于腮腺浅叶,生长缓慢,病程长,预后相对较好.肉眼观：肿瘤直径3～10cm,呈浸润性生长,部分病例周围组织中可见小的瘤结.切面灰白色或浅粉红色,质地较软,易碎.镜检：五种类型的细胞组成四种组织类型.免疫表型：CK18呈细胞膜型阳性、CK7阴性具有特异性.结论 涎腺腺泡细胞癌癌细胞类型和组织类型的多样性是该肿瘤的特征,不同的组织学类型应与其组织学形态相似的肿瘤鉴别,免疫表型起关键作用.腺泡细胞癌发病少,属低度恶性肿瘤,治疗首选以根治性手术切除,病变范围广或复发病例可行术后放疗以减少局部复发和转移.     

骨髓多能间质细胞在体外转化为具有收缩功能的平滑肌细胞

目的　探讨小鼠骨髓多能间质细胞在体外经条件培养基诱导定向分化成平滑肌细胞 ,研究分化后平滑肌细胞的生物学特征和功能特点 ,旨在为血管新生内膜增生发病机制提供新的实验佐证。方法　采用骨髓干细胞培养基和贴壁法从骨髓中分离骨髓间质细胞 ,通过逐渐改变条件培养基组成诱导骨髓间质细胞分化成平滑肌细胞 ,稳定传代 6代后 ,对分化后细胞的特异性标志物和细胞收缩功能实施鉴定。结果　小鼠MSC经贴壁培养其形态仍维持原代髓间质细胞特征 ,以逐渐改变培养基条件诱导培养 ,传至第 6代时骨髓间质细胞转变为梭形平滑肌样的细胞 ,胞膜清晰 ,无空泡 ,可重叠生长 ,融合后形成峰谷排列 ,呈良好去分化状态。应用免疫荧光染色法分析平滑肌特异性蛋白标志物 ,处于分化成熟的平滑肌细胞在第 6代开始表达平滑肌α 肌动蛋白 ,平滑肌肌球蛋白和肌钙结合蛋白等 3种特异性收缩蛋白 ,并伴有丰富的肌丝纤维。连续传代始终保持稳定表达 ,经Hoechst 332 5 8复染胞核DNA ,胞核清晰 ,核仁可见 ,表明分化良好。原代骨髓间质细胞免疫荧光染色均呈阴性。细胞经血管活性物质血管紧张素Ⅱ刺激产生明显的胞内钙离子转移和细胞收缩反应 ,且可被其特异性受体拮...     

CT扫描诊断涎腺疾病

作者用CT扫描诊断涎腺疾病113例,男42例,女71例,年龄16～74岁。良性肿瘤50例:多形性腺瘤32例,腺淋巴瘤(Warthin瘤)4例,脂肪瘤11例,淋巴管瘤2例,神经纤维瘤1例。良性涎腺肿瘤的CT表现为腺体肿大,可见孤立的软组织肿物,CT值42±1.9HU(腮腺肿瘤)或48±5.1HU(颌下腺肿瘤),常在腺内生长,呈均质性结构,轮廓规整清晰。脂肪瘤轮廓不规整,CT值为-114.3±15HU。     

TNF-α对大鼠Leydig细胞的作用及机制研究

目的观察TNF-α对睾丸细胞功能的影响并探讨其可能机制。方法通过Percoll不连续密度梯度分离获取大鼠Leydig细胞进行原代培养。HE染色进行细胞形态学观察。Leydig细胞培养48h后在培养液中分别加入不同浓度的大鼠TNF-α,使其终浓度达到0.1、1、10、100ng/ml,分别在培养的第1、2、3、4天取上清,通过放免法测定上清液中睾酮的含量,应用MTT法测定细胞增殖情况,流式细胞术与丫啶橙(AO)染色检测及观察Leydig细胞凋亡情况。结果原代细胞通过提纯后的细胞纯度可达70%~80%。HE染色后可见细胞胞质含量丰富,含有分泌颗粒,胞核圆。TNF-α在0.1~100ng/ml浓度范围内能呈剂量依赖的方式抑制Leydig细胞睾酮的基础分泌。0.1、1、10、100ng/mlTNF-α作用24h后,对Leydig细胞睾酮分泌量的抑制率分别为22.03%、34.98%、52.95%、74.83%。各组Leydig细胞睾酮的分泌量随时间延长呈减少的趋势,但除100ng/ml组外,其他各组各时间点比较差异无统计学意义。高浓度TNF-α(10、100ng/ml)组具有抑制Leydig细胞增殖和促进其凋亡作用,其增殖抑制率分别达到38.35%±4.17%、76.35%±8.65%,而凋亡率分别为13.23%±1.11%、26.43%±5.82%,与对照组比较有统计学意义(P<0.01)。AO染色见高浓度TNF-α(10、100ng/ml)组出现明显的细胞凋亡。结论TNF-α对Leydig细胞睾酮的基础分泌具有抑制作用,在较高浓度时该作用可能与其抑制Leydig细胞增殖并促进细胞凋亡有相关。     

子宫内膜异位症异位内膜细胞原代培养方法的改良

目的：建立一种简易的人异位子宫内膜细胞体外原代培养方法。方法：通过胰蛋白酶消化、贴壁纯化等技术,分离及培养10例子宫内膜异位症患者的异位子宫内膜细胞。在光学显微镜下观察细胞形态,以免疫细胞化学法鉴定细胞类型。结果：8份标本获得成功,培养的异位内膜细胞均有腺上皮细胞和间质细胞两种形态细胞。膜上皮细胞和基质细胞分别经角蛋白单抗和波形蛋白单抗免疫组化染色为阳性,腺上皮细胞平均生长时间为5周,间质细胞平均生长时间为14周。结论：成功建立了子宫内膜异位症异位内膜细胞体外原代培养方法,该改良培养法经济、简单、高效。     

食管癌TE-1细胞生物学性状的相关性研究

目的研究食管癌TE-1细胞生物学性状。方法①将购自上海生命科学院的食管癌TE-1细胞株进行HE染色;②用MTT法绘制细胞生长曲线;③免疫组织化学检测细胞特异性免疫标志;④流式细胞仪分析细胞周期。结果①用DMEM高糖培养基培养,生长良好。HE染色下,细胞大致分为3种：一种细胞呈椭圆形,核大,胞浆少,一种细胞呈三角形或多角形,大小,形态不等,一种细胞有双核或者多核,核大深染,染色质丰富,核分裂相多见;②细胞接种培养后其生长曲线呈近似S形。免疫组织化学检测3种抗体均表达阳性,其中cK7阳性表达定位于胞浆,Ki-67和p53定位于胞核;③TE-1细胞周期：半数细胞处于增生期,半数处于静止期。结论食管癌TE-1细胞符合食管鳞癌的特征。     

Salivary gland scintigraphy: the use of semiquantitative analysis for uptake and clearance

OBJECTIVE: Quantitative analysis of (99m)Tc-pertechnetate salivary gland scintigraphy has been used in the evaluation of salivary gland function, but so far no one method can be considered optimal for this task. In this study, a semiquantitative method providing 2 functional parameters for objective assessment of salivary gland function by scintillation camera imaging was tested. METHODS: Twenty-one patients referred for (99m)Tc-pertechnetate thyroid scanning were studied. Two patients with salivary complaints were also included. Dynamic imaging of the anterior head using a scintillation camera was started after a bolus intravenous injection of 185 MBq (5 mCi) (99m)Tc-pertechnetate at 1 frame per 30 s for 30 min. At 15 min after injection, diluted lemon juice was administered orally. Analysis of the dynamic study included time-activity curves of 4 salivary glands (right and left parotid and right and left submandibular). Two parameters of function were defined: uptake rate, taken as the value of the initial slope of the time-activity curve, and washout fraction, which was the relative mobilizable radioactivity from each salivary gland after ingestion of the sialogogue. A parametric image of the washout fraction was also generated. RESULTS: The images showed gradual uptake in the parotid and submandibular glands. Washout was noted immediately after ingestion of the lemon juice. The pattern of the time-activity curve in all glands showed an early fast-rising part followed by a slow-rising component to nearly a plateau within 6-10 min after injection. The mean value of the uptake rate parameter was 0.10 +/- 0.09 cps/s. There was no significant difference between the parotid and submandibular glands or the right and left sides. Uptake in the parotid gland was 1.5-2 times that in the submandibular gland. The washout fraction was 1.40 +/- 1.60 for the parotid glands and 0.77 +/- 0.41 for the submandibular glands (P = 0.005). CONCLUSION: The quantitative analysis method including the uptake rate and the washout fraction parameters would enable objective assessment of salivary function and provide a reproducible means for follow-up of functional impairment in certain diseases.     

Correlation between quantitative salivary gland scintigraphy and salivary secretion rates in children and young adults treated for hematological, malignant and metabolic diseases

OBJECTIVES: To study the correlation between whole salivary secretion rates and different variables from the radionuclide time-activity curve and to determine a reliable region for background correction in salivary gland scintigraphy. METHODS: Salivary gland scintigraphy (SGS) was performed before bone marrow transplantation or more than 4 years later in 23 patients aged 13.5 (s.d. 4.9) years. Unstimulated and stimulated whole salivary secretion rates were measured before SGS. Six different methods for background correction were evaluated. RESULTS: The unstimulated secretion rate was significantly correlated (P < 0.05) with the percentage stimulated secretion (S) and reaccumulation-slope (RS) after stimulation. The stimulated secretion rate was significantly correlated with RS, S and down-slope (DS). The temporal region above the parotid glands and the area above the thyroid gland was used for subtraction of background radiation for the parotid and submandibular glands respectively showed a strong correlation between repeated measurements of the variables analysed. The mean maximum uptake was 0.73-1.34% of total dose injected. CONCLUSIONS: The salivary scintigraphic variables which correlated more strongly with salivary secretion rates were RS, S and DS. The temporal region above the parotid gland and the area above the thyroid gland can be used reliably for correction background radiation in the analysis of the time-activity curve in SGS of the parotid and submandibular glands respectively.     

Rosai Dorfman disease of the parotid and submandibular glands: salivary gland scintigraphy and oral findings in two siblings

Rosai-Dorfman disease (RDD) is an unusual clinical entity characterized by benign pseudolymphomatous proliferation with significant histiocytic infiltration. In the present paper, extranodal RDD of the major salivary glands causing salivary hypofunction and the results of salivary gland scintigraphy and ultrasound are presented in two siblings. Case 1: a 10-year-old boy with bilateral painless masses around the parotid and submandibular glands was referred. Ultrasound examination showed bilateral, well-defined, hypoechoic solid mass lesions within both parotid glands with minimal normal parenchyma in the upper poles. Both submandibular glands were markedly hypoechoic and heterogeneous. Mass lesions within the parotid glands appeared as cold lesions with regular contours on scintigraphy. Dynamic images showed normal uptake and normal response to secretion in the upper poles of the parotid glands, corresponding with ultrasonographically normal parenchyma. Both submandibular glands showed markedly diminished uptake and secretion. Case 2: a 9-year-old boy presented with mass lesions around the submandibular glands. Ultrasound examination showed normal parotid glands and markedly hypoechoic and heterogeneous submandibular glands. Salivary gland scintigraphy showed normal uptake and secretion of parotid glands with markedly diminished uptake and secretion in both submandibular glands. There were severe carious lesions in both patients due to salivary hypofunction. Treatments of the two patients' teeth were performed. Major salivary gland involvement of RDD is important for dentists as it may cause xerostomia and can mimic dental abscess. Functional evaluation of salivary glands with scintigraphy, besides radiological and pathological techniques, will help to explain whether salivary glands are affected or not and improve the diagnostic effectiveness.     

Normal values of [99mTc]pertechnetate uptake and excretion fraction by major salivary glands

The assessment of the functional status of the salivary glands has been used in the scintigraphic evaluation of xerostomia. Several quantitative methods derived from standard dynamic scintigraphy have been suggested. However, the indices proposed are quite variable and unlikely to be useful in clinical practice.The objectives of this study were to obtain reference values of major salivary glands uptake and excretion fraction in healthy subjects and to obtain normal ratios of Tc-pertechnetate uptake by the major salivary glands in comparison to the thyroid gland uptake. The standardization of these values has the purpose of making this evaluation faster and more objective.Fifty volunteers without clinical evidence of xerostomia or thyroid disease underwent static salivary glands scintigraphy with Tc-pertechnetate. Static images were obtained at 20 minutes and then at 3 minutes after oral stimulation with lemon juice. Percent uptake, excretion fraction and salivary gland to thyroid ratio rates were calculated for the parotid and the submandibular glands.The mean of the uptake values at 20 minutes for the right and left parotid glands were respectively 0.31% and 0.26%, and for the submandibular glands 0.15%. The excretion fraction of the tracer after the lemon juice stimulation was 70% for the parotids glands, 50% for the right and 49% for the left submandibular glands. The mean+/-SD salivary gland to thyroid count ratio was 0.79+/-0.45 for the right parotid, 0.78+/-0.5 for the left parotid, 0.67+/-0.33 and 0.66+/-0.34 for the right and left submandibular glands, respectively.Salivary glands scintigraphy with uptake and excretion fraction calculation is an easy to perform, non-invasive and objective method to investigate salivary glands function. These findings help the nuclear physician to interpret salivary gland scintigraphy more objectively, even in patients with thyroid gland dysfunction in whom Tc-pertechnetate thyroid uptake may be abnormal.     

Scintigraphic evaluation of salivary gland dysfunction in patients with thyroid cancer after radioiodine treatment

PURPOSE: Sialadenitis is a well-recognized adverse effect of high-dose radioactive iodine treatment. This study was undertaken to determine whether Tc-99m pertechnetate salivary gland scintigraphy may be used for objective assessment of salivary gland function in patients with thyroid cancer treated with I-131. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study group consisted of 71 patients (16 men, 55 women) with a mean age of 44 years (range, 16 to 73 years). Twenty-six (37%) patients were not given any radioiodine, and 18, 16, and 11 patients received doses of 100, 150, or 200 mCi (or higher), respectively. Parotid and submandibular glands were evaluated based on a four-grade scoring system. Correlation between the type of surgery, administered dose, time since therapy, subjective symptoms, and findings of salivary gland scintigraphy were evaluated. RESULTS: Subjective symptoms were questioned in 39 of the 45 patients who received radioactive iodine treatment. Fifty-four percent (21 of 39) of the patients reported xerostomia, of whom 86% (18 of 21) showed salivary gland dysfunction. Objective salivary gland dysfunction was observed in 69% (31 of 45) of patients. In 81% of the patients, the parotid glands were affected; in 13% of the patients, the submandibular glands were affected; and in 6%, both were affected ( < 0.000001). The frequency of salivary gland dysfunction showed a dose dependence to cumulative activity ( = 0.007). A greater complication rate was observed in patients with total thyroidectomy compared with subtotal surgery, although the correlation was not significant ( = 0.625). CONCLUSIONS: Parenchymal damage to the salivary glands induced by radioactive iodine treatment can be evaluated by salivary gland scintigraphy. The impairment is worse in the parotid glands and increases with the total dose.     

Semi-quantitative assessment of salivary gland function in patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma after radioiodine-131 treatment

Sialadenitis and xerostomia are well-known side effects of high-dose radioactive iodine ((131)Iota) treatment in patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC). This study was undertaken to determine salivary gland function semi-quantitatively in patients with DTC given (131)I for the treatment of the thyroid remnant and/or metastases. Thirty-six patients, 11 males and 25 females, mean age 53.5 years, range 22-73 years, were studied. Scintigraphy of the salivary glands was performed with (99m)Tc-pertechnetate and the salivary excretion fraction (SEF) of the parotid and the submandibular glands was calculated as a measure of their function. Measurements were performed before (131)I treatment as a baseline study, and three weeks and three months later. The patients were clinically evaluated by a standardized subjective questionnaire. Results were as follows: Mean SEF at three weeks and three months after (131)I treatment was reduced as compared to baseline measurements. The total mean baseline measurements, those of three weeks and those of three months later were: 54.9%, 47.2% and 46% respectively; P<0.05 for both measurements (Table 1). The SEF decrease of the parotid glands was greater than that of the submandibular glands (P<0.05 as compared for both salivary glands before and three weeks and three months after (131)I treatment). This confirmed the higher radiosensitivity of the parotid glands as compared to the submandibular glands. In 12 patients (33%) there was no significant decrease of SEF in the salivary glands after (131)I treatment. The relation between the decrease of SEF after three weeks and after three months and the dose of (131)I administered, was for the right and left submandibular glands significant (P=0.016 and P=0.002), while for the parotid glands it was insignificant (P=0.22 and P=0.27 respectively) (Table 4). Reduction of SEF in the parotid glands three months after (131)I treatment was greater than after three weeks. This difference, as regards the submandibular glands, was not significant. Our results show that high dose (131)I treatment in DTC patients induces a significant effect on salivary gland function, which is dose-related in the submandibular glands, and more prominent in the parotid glands.     

Sj?gren's syndrome: comparison of assessments with quantitative salivary gland scintigraphy and contrast sialography.

This study compared the quantitative parameters of salivary gland scintigraphy and the sialographic stages in patients with Sj?gren's syndrome. METHODS: One hundred sixteen patients suspected of having Sj?gren's syndrome were examined with salivary gland scintigraphy and contrast sialography. When contrast sialography was used as the gold standard, Sj?gren's syndrome was diagnosed in 50 of these 116 patients; Sj?gren's syndrome was not seen in the other 66 patients. After injection of 370 MBq 99mTc-sodium pertechnetate, dynamic salivary gland scintigraphy with lemon juice stimulation was performed for 50 min. Functional parameters for the parotid and submandibular glands were calculated, and scintigraphic and sialographic results were compared. RESULTS: With the progression of sialographic stages from 0 to 4, the quantity of tracer accumulation decreased in the submandibular gland (P < 0.0001), and the quantity of tracer secretion decreased in the parotid gland (P < 0.0001). The sialographic stage in patients with Sj?gren's syndrome was correlated with these scintigraphic parameters (P < 0.0001): sialographic stage = 3.243 - 0.337 x (submandibular gland uptake ratio) - 0.026 x (parotid gland maximum secretion). CONCLUSION: The decreased accumulation in the submandibular gland and the decreased secretion in the parotid gland were highly sensitive indicators of salivary gland disease in Sj?gren's syndrome. The sialographic stage was correlated with these scintigraphic parameters.     

Evidence for early and persistent impairment of salivary gland excretion after irradiation of head and neck tumours

Salivary gland scintigraphy with technetium-99m pertechnetate was used to follow changes in the excretion and uptake function of the major salivary glands until 1 year after irradiation. Twenty-five patients who received radiotherapy for head and neck tumours were included in the study. Seventy-nine salivary glands (39 parotid and 40 submandibular) were evaluated in relation to the average received radiation dose. Salivary gland scintigraphy was performed before and 1, 6 and 12 months after radiotherapy. For each gland the excretion response to carbachol, evaluated by calculation of the salivary excretion fraction (SEF), the cumulative gland uptake (CGU) and the absolute excreted activity (AEA) at various intervals after radiotherapy were compared with the baseline values. The excretion response decreased in 20 of 25 patients at 1 month after radiotherapy. One month after radiotherapy both SEF and AEA decreased significantly in relation to the radiation dose. These decreases in excretion parameters persisted during the follow-up period. Parotid excretion was affected significantly more than submandibular excretion. CGU values did not change significantly until 6 months after radiotherapy, but at 12 months a significant decrease related to radiation dose was observed. Xerostomia was assessed during radiotherapy and on the days of the scintigraphic tests. The incidence of xerostomia did not correspond to the effects observed in the scintigraphy studies. It is concluded that radiotherapy induces early and persistent impairment of salivary gland excretion, related to the radiation dose. This impairment is stronger in parotid glands than in submandibular glands.     

Immunohistochemical study on the localization of the epitope defined by a human saliva-specific mouse monoclonal antibody (P4-5C)

Summary A novel mouse monoclonal antibody (P4-5C) has been developed which recognizes the core portion of the protein carrying ABO(H) blood group antigens in human saliva. This proved to be specific for human saliva using immunochemical investigations such as enzymelinked immunosorbent assay, Ouchterlony method and counter-immunoelectrophoresis. By licht and electron microscope studies with immunohistochemical techniques using this human saliva-Specific P4-5C as primary antibody, it was shown that P4-5C reacted specifically and exclusively with mucus from the mucous gland cells of human salivary glands. P4-5C reacted neither with the mucous gland cells of other primates (hamadryas baboon, Japanese monkey and Rhesus monkey) and four mammals (dog, cat, rabbit and mouse) nor with other human tissues. The epitope on the core portion of the ABO(H)-carrying protein was defined by P4-5C and could be discriminated from the epitope of ABO(H) blood group antigens using immunoelectronmicroscopy, although these 2 epitopes were localized relatively close to each other. The P4-5C monoclonal antibody can be also used for morphological species identification of tissue specimens from submandibular glands.     

Salivary SPECT and factor analysis in Sj?gren's syndrome

Salivary SPECT and factor analysis in Sj?gren's syndrome were performed in 17 patients and 6 volunteers as controls. The ability of SPECT to detect small differences in the level of uptake can be used to separate glands from background even when uptake is reduced as in the patients with Sj?gren's syndrome. In control and probable Sj?gren's syndrome groups the uptake ratio of the submandibular gland to parotid gland on salivary SPECT (S/P ratio) was less than 1.0. However, in the definite Sj?gren's syndrome group, the ratio was more than 1.0. Moreover, the ratio in all patients with sialectasia, which is characteristic of Sj?gren's syndrome, was more than 1.0. Salivary factor analysis of normal parotid glands showed slowly increasing patterns of uptake and normal submandibular glands had rapidly increasing patterns of uptake. However, in the definite Sj?gren's syndrome group, the factor analysis patterns were altered, with slowly increasing patterns dominating both in the parotid and submandibular glands. These results suggest that the S/P ratio in salivary SPECT and salivary factor analysis provide additional radiologic criteria in diagnosing Sj?gren's syndrome.