Cytologic Studies of the Salivary Glands of the Rat in Reference to the Aging Process

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Observations of the mitochondria and Golgi substance in the submandibular and parotid glands from 41 wistar rats revealed alterations of varying extent related to age. The mitochondria in the cells of the submandibular glands of young animals were plump rods and filaments, evenly distributed within the cells, and showing little variation in appearance from cell to cell. There was a diminution in the amount of mitochondrial material in cells of senile animals, by virtue of either a decrease in the thickness of individual mitochondria or by actual decrease in their number. The Golgi substance in the submandibular cells of young animals was seen to consist of continuous delicate strands, with little variation from cell to cell. In the senile animals, Golgi material was irregularly distributed and often fragmented into small pieces. Mitochondria in the parotid gland cells altered from spherical and rod forms of relatively even thickness and regular distribution in young animals to spheres of irregular size and distribution in senile animals. The Golgi substance in these cells altered from uniform, open strands and nets in young animals to irregular, more closely knit strands in senile animals. Fragmentation of the Golgi net was observed in scattered cells of sections from the senile group.