Electron microscopic detection of statherin in secretory granules of human major salivary glands

• Published in: Journal of anatomy Vol. 212; no. 5; pp. 664 - 668
• Main Authors: Isola, M., Cabras, T., Inzitari, R., Lantini, M. S., Proto, E., Cossu, M., Riva, A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.05.2008; Blackwell Science Inc
• Subjects: Adult; Female; human salivary glands; Humans; immunogold; Male; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; Microscopy, Immunoelectron; Middle Aged; Original; Parotid Gland - metabolism; Parotid Gland - ultrastructure; Salivary Glands - chemistry; Salivary Glands - ultrastructure; Salivary Proteins and Peptides - analysis; secretory granules; Secretory Vesicles - chemistry; Secretory Vesicles - ultrastructure; statherin; Submandibular Gland - metabolism; Submandibular Gland - ultrastructure
• ISSN: 0021-8782; 1469-7580
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-7580.2008.00888.x

In order to increase current knowledge regarding statherin secretion into the oral cavity, ultrastructural localization of this peptide was investigated in human salivary glands by using a post‐embedding immunogold staining technique. Statherin reactivity was found inside the granules of serous cells of parotid and submandibular glands. In parotid granules immunostaining was preferentially present in the less electron‐dense region, whereas in submandibular serous granules the reactivity was uniform and the dense core always stained. By contrast, none or weak reactivity was observed in serous cells of major sublingual glands. These findings reveal for the first time the subcellular localization of statherin by electron transmission microscopy and confirm that of the three major types of salivary glands, the parotid and submandibular glands are the greatest source of salivary statherin. Moreover, they suggest that more than one packaging mechanism may be involved in the storage of statherin within serous granules of salivary glands.