• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.12
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• pp.1541-1552
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to investigate the structure and secretory function of the von Ebner's gland in parasympathetic or sympathetic nerve innervation. Sprague Dawley rats were sacrificed 3, 7, 10, 14, and 21 days after bilateral glossopharyngeal or hypoglossal nerve axotomy, respectively. The circumvallate papilla portion of the tongue was dissected and we observed morphological changes in the von Ebner's gland. The properties of glycoconjugate in the von Ebner's gland were investigated using nine biotinylated lectins (PSA, UEA I, GSL I $B_4$, ECL, DBA, SBA, HPA, SJA, or sWGA). Compared with the control group, cytoplasmic vacuoles appeared in the serous acini of the von Ebner's gland in the 3-day group, and the serous acini were significantly vacuolized and degenerated in the 10-day group after glossopharyngeal nerve axotomy. However, the structure of the von Ebner's gland did not change after hypoglossal nerve axotomy. In the control group, the von Ebner's glands secreted glycoconjugates containing ${\alpha}$-D-galactose, N-acetyl-D-galactosamine, and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine oligomer, and the amount of the secretion decreased significantly in the 10-day group after glossopharyngeal nerve axotomy. However, the amount of the glycoconjugate secretion did not change after hypoglossal nerve axotomy. Therefore, the results of this study suggest that the glossopharyngeal nerve containing parasympathetic nerve fibers is important for maintaining the structure of and secretory function in the von Ebner's gland in rats.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.37 no.12
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• pp.1568-1575
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• 2008

This study was performed to determine alleviating effects of green tea (GT) on the N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) toxicity to mucins in the rat lingual salivary glands. Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into five groups: untreated (Control), one week-NDMA administrated (NDMA), one week-GT administrated after NDMA for one week (NDMAGT), one week-NDMA administrated with GT (GTNDMA), and one-week NDMA administrated with GT after GT for one week (GTGTNDMA). The mucin properties were elucidated by periodic acid Schiff (PAS) reaction, alcian blue (AB) pH 2.5, AB pH 2.5-PAS, aldehyde fuchsin (AF) pH 1.7-AB pH 2.5, and high iron diamine (HID)-AB pH 2.5 staining. The lingual von Ebner's glands of NDMA group showed some changes such as contraction and destruction of the serous acini, decrease and disappearance of the cytoplasmic granules, vacuolation of cytoplasm, and the mucigenous duct cells. Also, in the lingual mucous glands, enlarged lumens, fused acini, disappearance of granules, vacuolation of cytoplasm, and mucigenous duct cells were observed. All the GT administrated groups had a tendency to recover. GTGTNDMA group recovered almost up to the state of the control group. The lingual von Ebner's glands of NDMA group showed a decrease of neutral mucin and the lingual mucous glands showed a decrease of both neutral and acidic mucins decreased in comparison with control group, although mucous acini secreting strong sulfomucin decreased while those secreting non-sulfomucin (sialomucin) increased. All the GT administrated groups had a tendency to recover. The degree of recovery in the GTNDMA group was stronger than in NDMAGT group and that of the GTGTNDMA group was almost up to the state of the control group. Plus, lingual von Ebner's glands of GTGTNDMA group contained much more neutral mucin than in the control group. In conclusion, it is suggested that NDMA exhibit the toxicity which affects on the mucin properties and which green tea alleviates.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.99-105
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• 2006

Von Ebner's glands (vEG) are minor salivary glands associated with circumvallate and foliate papilla. The secretions of vEG consist of microenvironment of the taste buds in the circumvallate and foliate papillae, and thus saliva from vEG plays a role in the perception of taste. The $Ca^{2+}$ signaling system in rat vEG acinar cell was examined using the $Ca^{2+}$-sensitive fluorescent indicator Fura-2. Agonist-induced increase in intracellular $Ca^{2+}\;([Ca^{2+}]_i)$ was stimulated by carbachol (CCh) and substance P (SP), but not by norepinephrine (NE), and recovered to control levels by their receptor antagonists dose-dependently. The effects were also observed in $Ca^{2+}$-free medium, suggesting mobilization from intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ store. These results in the vEG acinar cell indicate that 1) $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ is at least regulated by muscarinic and neurokininergic (NK1) receptors; 2) the increases in $[Ca^{2+}])i$ activated by CCh and SP are mainly mediated by discharge of cytosolic calcium pool.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.8 no.5
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• pp.509-519
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• 1998

The effect of N-Nitrosodimethylamine(NDMA) on the glycoconjugates of rat lingual salivary gland was examined by prelectin histochemical methods. Sprague-Dawley rats weighing about 250-300g were divided into control and experimental groups. Each rat of experimental groups was administrated NDMA(17mg/kg) orally and sacrificed in 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, 96 and 120 hours after NDMA administration. The regional differences and change of glycoco-njugates were elucidated by prelectin histochemical methods, such as periodic acid Schiff's(PAS) reaction, alcian blue (AB) pH 2.5, AB pH 0.4, AB pH 2.5-PAS, aldehyde fuchsin(AF) pH 1.7-AB pH 2.5 and high iron diamine(HID)-AB pH 2.5 staining. The major morphological changes in the von Ebner’s gland of NDMA administrated groups were withering and des-truction of serous acini, diminution and disappearance of cytoplasmic granules and vacuolation in cytoplasm of serous cells, and mucinous changes of duct epithelial cells. These changes were noted in NDMA administrated groups for 12 to 72 hours. In the lingual mucous gland of NDMA administrated groups, the major morphological changes were enlargement, fusion and destruction of mucous acini, loss of cytoplasmic granules and vacuolated generation in cytop-lasm of mucous cells, and mucinous change of duct epithelial cells. These changes were severe in NDMA administra-ted groups for 12 to 72 hours. In NDMA administrated groups of lingual von Ebner's gland for 12 and 72 hours, the neutral glycoconjugates be-come diminished remarkably compared to the control group. The decreased amount of neutral glycoconjugates tended to be gradually recovered from 96 hours group. The acidic glycoconjugates which were not detected in control group were found in a few serous cells of these gland of NDMA administrated groups for 6 to 48 hours and 120 ho-urs. The remarkable decrease of neutral and acidic glycoconjugates was observed in the lingual mucous glands 3, 24 and 48 hours after NDMA administration, and the striking decrease of acidic glycoconjugates was found in 72 hours groups. Among acidic glycoconjugates, sulfated glycoconjugates tended to decrease in NDMA administrated groups for 72 hours, while sialic glycoconjugates were increased in NDMA administrated groups for 3, 12 and 48 hours.