Fine structure of the differentiating acini in submandibular glands of isoproterenoltreted rats

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Abstract
Chronic treatment with isoproterenol, a β‐adrenergic drug, accelerates the postnatal differentiation of the rat submandibular gland. This report compares the ultrastructure of submandibular glands of acute and chronically treated, 2, 11 and 17‐day‐old rats with that of controls. In all cases a greater number of acinar cells were found in the treated glands. The correlation noted between changes in the nature of the contents of the condensing vaculoes and Golgi apparatus of some proacinar cells and the formation of secretory granules intermediate in appearance between those of proacinar and acinar cells, support the hypothesis that proacinar cells are the precursors of acinar cells in the young rat. Differences in the morphology of secretory granules in acinar cells of treated and control animals are described. It is concluded that precocious differentiation of the submandibular gland may be induced by the administration of isoproterenol as early as the first day of postnatal life, that proacinar cells become recognized as acinar cells following a change in the nature of their secretory product, and that the secretory material produced by acinar cells in the treated animals is not identical to that of the controls.