European Journal of Anatomy

Official Journal of The Spanish Society of Anatomy
Cover Volume 18 - Number 1
Eur J Anat, 18 (1): 26-31 (2014)

The mandibular salivary gland microscopic morphology of the adult African giant pouched rat (Cricetomys gambianus, Waterhouse-1840)

Ekele Ikpegbu, Uchenna C. Nlebedum, Okechukwu Nnadozie and Isaiah O. Agbakwuru

Department of Veterinary Anatomy, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria

ABSTRACT The mandibular salivary gland microscopic morphology of the adult African giant pouched rat was investigated. This study was carried out to provide the basic histology of this organ in the giant pouched rat, as there is dearth of information of its microscopic architecture in available literature. This is of the most importance, as the possible use of this species of rodent is considered as a future laboratory animal instead of the Wistar rat because of its bigger size; also, for purposes of domestication and use as a ready source of animal protein. Hence the need to understand the digestive biology to help animal nutritionist in feed formulation. Histology revealed the presence of both serous and mucus secretory acini. Some mucous cells presented serous demilunes. Myoeithelial cells were seen around secretory cells and the intercalated ducts. The serous gland region with more relatively profuse intralobular ducts was larger in size than the mucus gland region. The intralobular ducts of intercalated and striated ducts were lined by simple cuboidal and simple columnar cells respectively. The excretory duct was lined by stratified cuboidal cells. The large serous glandular region reflects the need for more enzymic action in the oral cavity, while the mucus glands will help produce mucin that will lubricate the digestive tract. This study for the first time documents the normal histology of the mandibular salivary gland in this species, hence filling a gap that will help further investigative research, especially the role of myoepithelial cells in secretory glands tumors.

Keywords: Mandibular gland, Histology, Myoepithelial cells, African giant pouched rat

European Journal of anatomy
ISSN 2340-311X (Online)