A morphologic study of the recovery of the rat submandibular gland after retrograde infusion

The recovery of the rat submandibular gland after retrograde infusion of water‐soluble radiographic contrast medium was studied using an experimental model. During continuous monitoring of the developing intraglandular pressure, the glands were subjected to ductal and slight parenchymal filling or heavy parenchymal filling with the medium. The animals were killed after varying recovery periods, and the tissue was prepared for light and electron microscopic examination. Dilation of the ductal lumina, induced during ductal and slight parenchymal filling, was successively reduced and, generally, the parenchyma had a normal appearance at 30 h. In glands subjected to heavy parenchymal filling, the changes in the intralobular ducts were more pronounced and were also seen at later times after infusion. Alterations in the acini, comprising fusion of secretory granules, vacuole formation and dilation of the acinar lumina and intercellular canaliculi, were observed. At later times, atrophy of the parenchymal cells occurred together with an apparent proliferation of the connective‐tissue stroma, as well as an increase in the number of small blood vessels. An inflammatory cell‐infiltrate was seen in both groups of animals, but was most prominent in glands subjected to heavy parenchymal filling. The infiltrate, comprised primarily of macrophages and polymorphonuclear leukocytes, reached a peak at 20 h after infusion. At later times, mast cells and occasional eosinophils were seen. The observed alterations and the pattern of recovery are most likely due to the induced intraglandular pressure and the following inflammatory reaction. It is also possible that the changes, to some extent, are influenced by the presence of the contrast medium in the tissue.