Localized Cytomegalic Inclusion Disease of Lacrimal Glands in the NMRI-D Strain Caries-susceptible Rat

¹ Dental Division, Naval Medical Research Institute, National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland

The morphologic effects of a cytomegalic inclusion disease in exorbital and intraorbital lacrimal glands of the NMRI-D caries-susceptible rats was observed at 50-day intervals starting at birth and continued for 600 days. In 350-day-old animals, affected acinar cells exhibited marked pleomorphism and subsequent cytomegaly. Bizarre nuclear patterns were noted, namely, asymmetrical multipolar mitotic figures, syncytial masses, and giant hyperchromatic club-shaped nuclei containing one to four eosinophilic inclusions. The presence of intranuclear inclusions and subsequent bizarre cellular activity was not observed in any females, regardless of age. The salivary system was free of any inclusion disease.