A Histochemical Study of Hamster Submandibular Lesions

¹ Division of Oral Pathology, School of Dentistry, and Department of Pathology, College of Medical Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Non-neoplastic proliferative lesions in the hamster submandibular gland have been studied morphologically and histochemically. Chronic irritation was produced by implantation of Sudan TV pellets; regeneration was induced by excision of gland tissue. The enzyme systems examined were succinic dehydrogenase (SDH), diphosphopyridine nucleotide (DPNH) diaphorase and triphosphopyridine nucleotide (TPNH) diaphorase. Glandular regeneration appeared to originate in the cuboidal cells of the striated intralobular ducts. The activity of the three enzymes was initially low in the regenerating cells. The SDH activity remained low. The DPNH and TPNH diaphorase activity reached nearly normal levels approximateliy 1 week after experimental procedures. Squamous metaplasia of duct Cells Was a frequently observed reaction to injury (simple excision and chronic irritation).