Experimental autoallergic sialadenitis in mice. Histopathological and ultrastructural studies.

Experimental autoallergic sialadenitis was induced in SL/Ni mice by one or two injections of syngeneic submandibular gland homogenate emulsified with adjuvant. Light microscopically, there were marked lymphoid cell infiltration in the submandibular glands with high incidence and proliferation of duct epithelia. Furthermore complete alteration of whole glandular lobules in some cases was observed. Ultrastructurally, small and medium sized lymphocytes and plasma cells constituted a major portion of the infiltrating cells, and lymphocytes were frequently observed inside the basal lamina of ductal and acinar regions, especially observed in the small ductal region. In the aggregates of infiltrating cells, the cell remnants of salivary gland epithelia were scattered. Furthermore some of the epithelial cell remnants in aggregates of infiltrating cells could be recognized as epithelial masses which were composed of proliferated duct epithelial cells, though no typical structure of epimyoepithelial islands seen in Sjögren's syndrome was found. Antisalivary duct antibody was detected in only one case.