Reaction pattern of xenografted human salivary glands in nude mice. An immunohistological and autoradiographical study.

35 specimens of human parotid gland and 37 of submandibular gland were transplanted into athymic nude mice. At distinct time intervals, from 1 day to 8 months the transplants were collected and examined. The transplanted glands were studied by light microscopy, immunohistology and autoradiography. The following changes were detectable: acute injury to the xenograft and inflammatory reaction (day 1-7), regeneration of the transplant and the beginning of adaptation to the "mouse milieu" (day 8-30), completion of adaptation (day 30 and later). The presence of the following substances was analysed: amylase, lactoferrin, secretory component, tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA). Amylase was only detected in the early transplants. Lactoferrin was seen only in the small duct system. TPA was present during all transplantation periods and was quantitatively correlated with the 3H thymidine labeling index. From our observations we can say that the salivary glands show two different reacting compartments: a large and a small duct system. The histogenesis of the xenografts, and the relationships of the changes observed to human salivary gland diseases were discussed.