[Structural changes in the granular duct epitheliocytes and terminal areas of the submandibular glands induced by exposure to light and radiation in rats].

This investigation was aimed at the evaluation of radiomodifying effect of round-the-clock light exposure on the salivary glands. The changes of morphometric parameters of granular duct epitheliocytes and acinar cells in rat submandibular glands were analyzed by means of light and electron microscopy after 48 h of light exposure by 3500-lux cool white fluorescent lamps, single 5 Gy whole-body X-irradiation and their combination. Early changes of granular duct epitheliocytes after light and combined exposure were more significant in comparison with those on acinar cells. On the 10-th day after combined irradiation reduction of nucleoli and endoplasmatic reticulum in the duct cells was more pronounced as compared with similar period following light and X-ray irradiation. Long-term morphological changes in the glands after X-ray and combined irradiation were similar. It is concluded that radiation and round-the-clock light exposure act synergistically.