Histochemical Study of Protein-bound Sulfhydryl and Disulfide Groups in Normal Salivary Glands

Abstract

Pro-tein-bound sulfhydryl and disulfide groups in the major salivary glands of rat, mouse, hamster, guinea pig, rabbit and dog were demonstrated histochemically by the neotetrazolium chloride and 2[image]2-dihydroxy 6[image]6-dinaphthyl disulfide (DDD) methods. No significant difference in histochemical localization of sulfhydryl groups was observed in comparing the both methods. In the salivary gland the sulfhydryl groups were more abundant than the disulfide groups, and the localization of the sulfhydryl and disulfide groups was very similar. A strong reaction was observed in the duct cells of the salivary glands. Serous acini of the parotid and submandibular glands reacted moderately and the cytoplasm of mucinous cells of sublingual gland showed negative results, though slight reactions were observed at the basal portions of acinar cells. In regard to the demonstration of both sulfhydryl and disulfide groups, a faint staining in the nucleoli and nuclear membrane of parotid and submandibular acinar cells was observed. By visual estimation, no remarkable difference of sulfhydryl and disulfide groups was observed among the 6 different species.