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

BACKGROUND: In the present study, the submandibularsalivary gland microscopic morphology of the adult Africangiant pouched rat was investigated. This study was carried out toprovide the basic histology of this organ in the giant pouched rat,to accompany the dearth of information of its microscopicarchitecture in the available literature. This becomes of evenhigher importance when considering the possible use of thisspecies of rodent as a future laboratory animal to replace theWinster rat, because of its bigger size and the possibility ofdomesticating the giant pouched rat as a ready source of animalprotein. In addition, the need to understand the digestive biologyto help animal nutritionists in feeding formulation may also beachieved. The histology revealed the presence of both serous andmucus secretory acini. Some mucus cells showed serousdemilumes. The myoeithelial cells were seen around thesecretory cells and the intercalated ducts. The serous glandregion with more relatively profuse intralobular ducts was largerin size than the mucus gland region. The intralobular ducts ofintercalated and striated ducts were lined by simple cuboidal andsimple columnar cells, respectively. The excretory duct waslined by the stratified cuboidal cells. The large serous glandularregion reflects need for more enzymic action in the oral cavity,while the mucus glands will help produce mucin that willlubricate the digestive tract. This study, for the first timedocuments the normal histology of submandibular salivarygland in this species, hence filling the knowledge gap that willhelp further research especially on the role of myoepihelial cellsin the secretory glands tumours.