Experimental auto-allergic sialoadenitis in male rats.

Induced auto-allergic lesions in the submandibular glands of rats were studied by immunofluorescence. Direct staining with a goat anti-rat IgG conjugate was negative. Indirect immunofluorescence revealed a high incidence of anti-salivary-duct antibodies in sera from both control and experimental groups. In individual rats, no relationship was found between the presence or absence of serum anti-salivary antibodies and the presence or absence of salivary auto-allergic lesions. We conclude that the antibodies demonstrated do not play a role in the pathogenesis of the disease.