COMPARATIVE MORPHOLOGY OF SALIVARY GLANDS OF HUMANS AND LABORATORY ANIMALS

Abstract

The article summarizes comparative data on the normal morphology of the parotid, submandibular, and sublingual salivary glands of humans and some laboratory animals most commonly used in biomedical research. The information presented in this review shows the similarity of the general principles of the structure and function of the large salivary glands of humans, rats, mice, rabbits, guinea pigs and hamsters. However, morphology is still quite variable, which is explained, first of all, by phylogenetic features associated with the lifestyle of humans and animals, as well as the type of nutrition. When the anatomy of the glands is principally the same, only slightly different in shape and relative size, the interspecies differences in the topographic location of the glands and their microscopic structure became more significant. The differences in the composition of the secretion of human glands and glands of studied animals were mainly due to the structural features of the acini and excretory ducts and the location of myoepithelial cells in these structures. Thus, in preclinical studies of drugs, it is necessary to take into account not only the physiological characteristics of salivation and the biochemical composition of saliva but also the structural features of the salivary glands of various animal species. The information on the anatomy, topography, and syntopy of the salivary glands presented in this review can be useful in performing surgical procedures, in diagnostic and treatment procedures, and for modeling pathologies. Information about the histological structure will help to avoid difficulties in making a diagnosis, as well as incorrect interpretation of the data.

Keywords

salivary glands / parotid gland / submandibular gland / sublingual gland / zygomatic gland / laboratory animals

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Muzhikyan A.A., Shedko V.V., Zaikin K.O., Gushchin Y.A., Makarova M.N., Makarov V.G.