Journal of Dental Research, Vol 73, 556-560, Copyright © 1994 by International & American Associations for Dental Research Online Journals
Immunocytochemical localization of blood group ABH antigens in the human parotid gland
M. S. Lantini and M. Cossu
Dipartimento di Citomorfologia, Universita di Cagliari, Italy.
The aim of this study was to determine whether the parotid gland, like
other salivary glands, produces blood group antigens. A post-embedding
immunogold staining (IGS) method for ABH antigens was applied to osmicated
and nonosmicated, routinely prepared specimens of normal human parotid
glands. A and B antigens were not detected, whereas H antigen was found in
acini and ducts of glands from A, B, and O subjects. In osmicated samples,
the only sites of H labeling were secretory granules of a few acinar cells
and those of most intercalated duct cells. In both cell types, only the
pale matrix of the granules was stained. In non-osmicated samples,
secretory granules showed the same distribution pattern of H, although gold
particles were more abundant, and basolateral membranes of acinar and
striated duct cells and the apical vesicles of striated duct cells were
also labeled. Our results suggest that small amounts of H antigen are
secreted by the parotid gland.
