Immunohistochemical Expression of Transforming Growth Factor-Alpha between Rat Submandibular and Sublingual Salivary Glands during Post-Natal Development
Immunohistochemical Expression of Transforming Growth Factor-Alpha between Rat Submandibular and Sublingual Salivary Glands during Post-Natal Development
Shaher Bano1, Nadia Naseem2 and Sarah Ghafoor1,*
ABSTRACT
Transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-α) is a mitogen polypeptide that regulates the pre and post-natal development, structure and function of salivary glands. The localization of TGF-α in post-natal submandibular gland (SMG) of rats and humans is well-studied.However, less is known regarding post-natal sublingual salivary gland (SLG) development and expression of TGF-α. The comparison of TGF-α expression in SLG with that of its expression in SMG during post-natal rat salivary gland development has not been documented in the literature so far. Following ethical approval, a total of twelve rats were divided into two groups. Group A1 consisted of six animals taken at the age of four weeks and sacrificed at age of five weeks. Group A2 contained six animals taken at age of eight weeks and sacrificed at age of nine weeks. The post-natal submandibular and sublingual salivary glands of both the groups were processed for comparison of immunohistochemistry for TGF-α expression at week five and week nine. Expression of TGF-α was noted inthe ductal epithelial cells of SLG that was found to be comparatively increased at the age of five weeks and reduced at age of nine weeks. The expression of TGF-α between both glands at age of nine weeks showed a decreased expression in SLG as comparedto that of SMG.A decrease in the expression of TGF-α in SLG occurs with progression of post-natal salivary gland development. This decrease in TGF-α expression in SLG occurs earlier and is moreas compared to that of the SMG.
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