| Abstract: | Ultrastructural alterations occurring in human salivary glands as a result of a variety of diseases are described. Major changes in these organs in cases of cystic fibrosis are probably the result of duct blockage, as indicated by study of chronically inflamed salivary glands. A new disease of salivary glands is reported in which parotid serous granules are distorted by bundles of fine filaments, which may be due to the untoward polymerization of a secretory protein, perhaps proline-rich protein. Finally, a clear-cell adenocarcinoma of palatine gland origin is described in which the nuclei display complex pseudoinclusions and the cytoplasm contains numerous herpes-type viruses. |
