Relations of Facial Nerve With Retromandibular Vein in Human Fetuses.

The relationship of facial nerve (FN) and its branches with the retromandibular vein (RMV) has been described in adults, whereas there is no data in the literature regarding this relationship in fetuses. The study was conducted to evaluate the anatomic relationships of these structures on 61 hemi-faces of fetuses with a mean age of 26.5 ±â€Š4.9 weeks with no visible facial abnormalities. The FN trunk was identified at its emergence at the stylomastoid foramen. It was traced till its ramification within the parotid gland. In 46 sides, FN trunk ramified before crossing RMV and ran lateral to it, while in 8 sides FN trunk ramified on the lateral aspect of the RMV. In 3 sides, FN trunk ramified after crossing the RMV at its medial aspect. In only 1 side, FN trunk trifurcated as superior, middle, and inferior divisions and RMV lied anterior to FN trunk, lateral to superior division, medial to middle and inferior divisions. In 2 sides, FN trunk bifurcated as superior and inferior divisions. Retromandibular vein was located anterior to FN trunk, medial to superior division, lateral to inferior division in both of them. In 1 side, RMV ran medial to almost all branches, except the cervical branch of FN. Variability in the relationship of FN and RMV in fetuses as presented in this study is thought to be crucial in surgical procedures particularly in early childhood.

Glycomic profile of the human parotid gland between 18th and 26th week of fetal development.

The formation of new and functional structural components of several organs, such as parotid glands, can be influenced by the glycocode. This study analyzed the glycobiology of parotid salivary gland tissue during fetal development using specific biochemical probes (lectins and antibodies). Eleven parotid gland samples from human fetuses were obtained from spontaneous abortions at 14-28 weeks of gestation, and tissue sections were analyzed for lectin histochemistry and immunohistochemistry. From the 18th to 26th week, Canavalia ensiformis agglutinin, wheat germ agglutinin, Ulex europaeus agglutinin-I, peanut agglutinin, Sambucus nigra agglutinin, and Vicia villosa agglutinin lectin staining were predominantly observed in the apical and/or basement membranes of the ducts and tubulo-acinar units. Moreover, the presence of galectin-1 was found in the membrane, cytoplasm, and nucleus of both structures. Conversely, Gal-3 and mucin-1 were restricted to the glandular ducts. The lectin staining pattern changed during the weeks evaluated. Nevertheless, the carbohydrate subcellular localization represented a key factor in the investigation of structural distribution profiles and possible roles of these glycans in initial parotid gland development. These findings are defined by their high biological value and provide an important base for the development of subsequent studies. (J Oral Sci 58, 353-360, 2016).

A different type of branchial fistula as part of a branchiootorenal syndrome.

We describe an extremely rare case of a complete fistula, a combination of the first 2 branchial arches as a component of branchiootorenal syndrome. A 13-year-old girl presented with the complaint of intermittent drainage from bilateral preauricular and right lower neck external openings. A contrast fistulogram revealed a complete fistula. Diagnostic features and surgical techniques are discussed in detail.

Morphological study of the fetal parotid duct and buccinator muscle and the relationship to salivary secretion.

The parotid glands secrete about 25% of all saliva produced. In the presence of a stimulus, the amount of saliva secreted from the parotid gland increases to 50%. A decrease in the amount of produced saliva due to aging and parotiditis results in a dry mouth. Therefore, the parotid duct is important to maintaining a healthy oral cavity. In human adults, the parotid duct, approximately 6-8-cm long, travels over the masseter muscle and penetrates the buccinator muscle to enter the oral cavity. Although there have been various studies regarding the parotid gland, only few suggest a functional role of the parotid duct, especially its area of penetration of the buccinator muscle. In this study, 34 fetal specimens ranging from 4 to 10 months of age at death were dissected for anatomical and histological examinations. The area of the parotid duct penetrating the buccinator muscle was fully formed in 5-month-old fetuses. This study found buccinator muscle fibers invading the parotid duct wall near its opening in 6-month-old fetuses and older. Our results support the claim that the buccinator muscle may act as a sphincter, playing a role in regulating and possibly preventing the reflux of salivary secretions into the parotid duct.

Characterization of two isoforms of human SPRR3 from saliva of preterm human newborn and autoptic fetal oral mucosa, parotid and submandibular gland samples.

RP-HPLC-ESI-MS profile of saliva samples from human preterm newborn showed a protein peak in the elution range 26.6-27.6min. Deconvolution of ESI-MS spectra revealed the presence of two proteins with average molecular mass (Mav) values of 17,239+/-3Da and 18,065+/-3Da in 9 samples, with Mav value of 17,239+/-3Da in 4 samples and Mav value of 18,065+/-3Da in 2 samples. MALDI-TOF-MS analysis of tryptic digest allowed identifying the proteins as two isoforms of small proline-rich protein 3 and cDNA amplification of RNA extracts from oral mucosa, parotid and submandibular gland samples, obtained at fetal autopsy, provided two nucleotide sequences in agreement with those reported in the literature. The two proteins differ for an octapeptide repeat (GCTKVPEP) and the substitution Leu-->Val, at position 148 and 140 of the mature form of the 18,065 and 17,239Da protein, respectively. During maturation the two proteins undergo two post-translational modifications, corresponding to N-terminal acetylation and removal of the initiator methionine. cDNA amplification did not allow to clarify if the proteins found in saliva originated from cellular shedding of the epithelium and/or secretion.

Histological and ultrastructural characterization of developing miniature pig salivary glands.

Salivary glands are a classic model of organ development and differentiation. Miniature pigs are considered as a unique animal model for salivary gland researchers in the fields of gene transfer, radiation damage, and functional reconstruction. However, there is little information about the development of miniature pig salivary glands. The present article was designed to study the developmental stages of salivary glands in miniature pigs using histological and ultrastructural methods. Sections from E40, E60, E80, E95 embryos, and P0 pups were stained with hematoxylin-eosin, Alcian blue, or periodic acid-schiff. Selected specimens were also processed for electron microscopy. The development of the miniature pig salivary glands can be divided into five different stages that refer to the stages of the developing mouse submandibular gland. The histological characteristics of the miniature pig salivary glands at different developmental stages were synchronously verified at the ultrastructural level. Interestingly, the development of the miniature pig parotid gland trailed that of the submandibular gland by approximately 15 days. Our study provides first-hand data regarding the morphological organogenesis of salivary glands in the miniature pig and provides a foundation for further research on this model.

Normal fetal salivary glands at 14-16 weeks of gestation as observed by transvaginal ultrasound imaging.

OBJECTIVES: Absence or congenital anomalies of the parotid glands are associated with significant long-term morbidity. To date there are no published data on ultrasonographic detection of these defects in early pregnancy. We set out to demonstrate and measure the fetal parotid and submandibular salivary glands at 14-16 weeks using transvaginal ultrasound imaging. METHODS: During a routine fetal anomaly detection scan in 30 consecutive patients, an attempt was made to examine the fetal parotid and submandibular glands. The fetal head was scanned in transverse sections just below the fetal ears, and the area of the parotid and submandibular glands was inspected. The examination time was not prolonged for the purpose of measuring the salivary glands. The fetal biparietal diameter and the femur length were also documented. RESULTS: The median gestational age was 15.4 (range, 14.4-16.5) weeks. In all 30 patients examined, at least one pair of parotid and submandibular glands was clearly visualized and measured. In seven patients the parotid and submandibular glands were visualized on both sides. The median length of the parotid gland was 7.5 (range, 5.5-11.5) mm and that of the submandibular gland was 5.4 (range, 3.7-8.5) mm. CONCLUSIONS: The fetal salivary glands can be demonstrated by transvaginal ultrasound imaging at 14-16 weeks of gestation. This is the first reported study presenting the normal values of salivary gland measurements, which may be important in detecting fetuses with congenital absence or other malformations of the glands.

Organogenesis of the juxta-oral organ in mice.

The juxta-oral organ is a bilateral organ in the mammalian bucca. It consists of epithelial cords with surrounding mesenchyme. It develops from embryonic oral epithelium, but its macroscopic morphology in mice is less studied and seems to be very different from that of humans. The juxta-oral organ in mice extends more widely from the subcutaneous tissue of the mandible near the lateral fascia of the masseter to the submucosa of the soft palate. In this paper, we report that the mutant mouse allele Bmp7(lacZ) presented intense lacZ expression in the epithelial component of the juxta-oral organ in its homo- and heterozygous states. The main aims of this study were to show that this mutant mouse allele is suitable for observing macroscopic structure of the juxta-oral organ and to describe the development of this organ during embryonic and postnatal stages. Whole-mount beta-gal staining of this strain of mouse showed that the juxta-oral organ in mice appeared at E12.0 from oral epithelium and lost connection with it before E12.5. Then, the juxta-oral organ extended anteriorly to the lateral fascia of the masseter and posteriorly to the submucosal layer of the soft palate via the orbit. The mature juxta-oral organ had no connection to other epithelia such as those of the bucca and parotid duct. It persisted until adulthood and there seemed to be no tendency to regress. Transmission electron microscopy showed that each part of the juxta-oral organ was an epithelial cord surrounded by a basement membrane and mesenchymal tissue.

Morphological study of the parotid duct in human fetuses with special emphasis on the relationship between the buccinator muscle and the parotid duct.

Parotid glands secrete about 25% of all saliva produced in the salivary glands. In the presence of a stimulus, the amount of saliva secreted from the parotid gland increases to 50% (1). In human adults, the parotid duct, approximately 6-8 cm long, traverses the masseter muscle and penetrates through the buccinator muscle into the oral cavity. Although various studies have been conducted on the parotid gland, there are only few suggesting the functional roles of the parotid duct, especially of the area penetrating the buccinator muscle. In the present study, we observed parotid ducts of human fetuses to morphologically analyze the function of the buccinator muscles in the flux of parotid saliva. Thirty fetal specimens ranging from five to ten months of age were dissected for anatomical and histological examinations. The area of the parotid duct penetrating the buccinator muscle was fully formed in six-month-old fetuses. Furthermore, this study confirms the existence of thin buccinator muscle fibers underneath the epithelium of the parotid duct's distal portion. Results suggest that the buccinator muscle may play a major role in preventing the reflux of salivary secretions by assisting the contraction of the parotid duct.

Pacinian corpuscle in the juxtaoral organ of Chievitz.

The juxtaoral organ of Chievitz (JOOC) is a normal permanent anatomical structure located within the soft tissue overlying the angle of the mandible in the buccotemporal space. Although the sensory organ nature of JOOC, repeatedly mentioned in German publications, has been neglected in the last decade by the American anatomists and pathologists, we incidentally found JOOC-type squamous epithelium accompanied by Pacinian corpuscles. This fortuitous finding appears to be the first report of the authentic Paciniform nerve endings within JOOC, supporting its mechanosensory function.

Immunohistochemical distribution of CD9 in parotid gland tumors.

OBJECTIVE: CD9 is a member of the tetra-membrane-spanning glycoprotein family called tetraspanin. CD9 suppresses breeding and motion in some types of cancer cells. At present, the expression of CD9 in the salivary gland has not yet been elucidated. METHODS: We examined the expression of CD9 not only in the normal salivary glands of human embryo and adults but also in the parotid gland tumors using immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS: CD9 was not detected in embryos at 18 weeks of gestation, but was observed at 24 weeks in the salivary gland. CD9 was constantly detected in the adult normal parotid gland. In benign parotid gland tumors, CD9 was present in the 11 of 16 pleomorphic adenomas, every Warthin tumors (18/18) and basal cell adenoma (1/1). In contrast, positive staining for CD9 in malignant parotid tumors was observed in only the case of mucoepidermoid carcinomas. Neither acinic cell carcinomas or adenoid cystic carcinomas did show positive reaction in examined cases. The localization of CD9 was also observed in intercalated duct cells. CONCLUSION: There was a statistically significant reduced expression of CD9 in malignant parotid gland tumors as compared to benign parotid gland tumors (P = 0.003).

[Epthelial derivates of the transversal groove of the stomodeum: parotid gland and juxtaoral organ]. / Derivados epiteliales del surco transversal del stomodeum: glandula parótida y órgano de chievitz.

A study was carried out in humans on the initial developmental stages of structures derived from the epithelial transversal groove of the primitive mouth. In O'Rahilly's stage 16, an epithelial condensation can be observed, the anlage of Chievitz's organ, while the anlage of the parotid gland was observed in O'Rahilly's stage 18. These structures are defined by their relationships with the mesenchyme and with their topographical location.

Thymus, kidney and craniofacial abnormalities in Six 1 deficient mice.

Six genes are widely expressed during vertebrate embryogenesis, suggesting that they are implicated in diverse differentiation processes. To determine the functions of the Six1 gene, we constructed Six1-deficient mice by replacing its first exon by the beta-galactosidase gene. We have previously shown that mice lacking Six1 die at birth due to thoracic skeletal defects and severe muscle hypoplasia affecting most of the body muscles. Here, we report that Six1(-/-) neonates also lack a kidney and thymus, as well as displaying a strong disorganisation of craniofacial structures, namely the inner ear, the nasal cavity, the craniofacial skeleton, and the lacrimal and parotid glands. These organ defects can be correlated with Six1 expression in the embryonic primordium structures as revealed by X-Gal staining at different stages of embryogenesis. Thus, the fetal abnormalities of Six1(-/-) mice appear to result from the absence of the Six 1 homeoprotein during early stages of organogenesis. Interestingly, these Six1 defects are very similar to phenotypes caused by mutations of Eya 1, which are responsible for the BOR syndrome in humans. Close comparison of Six1 and Eya 1 deficient mice strongly suggests a functional link between these two factors. Pax gene mutations also lead to comparable phenotypes, suggesting that a regulatory network including the Pax, Six and Eya genes is required for several types of organogenesis in mammals.

Development of the glandular epithelium of the bovine parotid gland during ontogenesis.

The development of the parotid gland was examined in 36 bovine embryos and foetuses with a crown-rump-length (CRL) from 28 up to 1000 mm by light, transmission electron microscopical and actin-immunohistochemical methods. The anlage of the parotid gland in an embryo with 28 mm CRL can be found at the lateral angle of the primitive oral cavity as a local thickening of the epithelium. During the second month, the differentiation of primary ducts and endbuds starts and a lumen develops in the primary ducts. At the end of the second month a lumen appears in the terminal endbuds. In the immature endpiece cells first secretory granules can be seen from a CRL of 240 mm. In the third month differentiation between intra- and inter-lobular ducts is possible. Immature myoepithelial cells present as a basal layer of flattened cells between the epithelial cells and the basement membrane at the end of the second month. During further development they increase in number, become more flattened and form long cellular processes. At the end of the fourth month isolated actin filament bundles are formed, which were also detected by an antibody against smooth muscle actin. The actin filaments condense continuously until they fill the cell processes completely at the end of foetal development.

Immunolocalization of fibronectin and collagen types I and III in human fetal parotid and submandibular glands.

We examined the distribution of fibronectin and collagen types I and III in human fetuses under a confocal laser scanning microscope using immunohistochemical staining (at 16, 20, 24, 28, 32 weeks' gestation). The collagen types I and III form the collagenous matrix components in the connective tissue of the parotid and submandibular glands. These extracellular matrix components were detected at various stages around the terminal portion and in the capsule-like connective tissue of the parotid and submandibular glands. However, the extracellular matrix components in the connective tissue around the terminal portion had a stronger reaction than those in the capsule-like connective tissue found on the fringe of the terminal portion. The collagen type I of the parotid gland at 16 weeks' gestation had a weaker reaction than that of the submandibular gland. When results of the reaction at other stages and other extracellular matrix components of the two salivary glands were compared, collagen type I appeared as early as at 16 weeks' gestation in either gland. Since collagen type I serves as the core connective tissue, these observations suggest that the formation of connective tissue around the parotid gland occurs before or after 16 weeks' gestation lagging behind that of the submandibular gland.

Morphological changes in collagen fiber during development of human fetal parotid and submandibular glands.

Parotid and submandibular glands from human fetuses (16, 20, 24, 28, 32 weeks of gestation) were examined under a scanning electron microscope. Changes were found in the arrangement of collagen fibers in the connective tissue surrounding the salivary gland. In particular, several layers around the salivary gland were formed by a collagen network structure. These structures, although in varied arrangements, were recognizable in each stage of fetal growth. They are thought to play the role of a "cushion" against pressure created by accumulation of granules because of the reflex activity of myoepithelial cells during secretion. These structural changes are related to the mechanical performance of granule formation in the salivary gland and secretion during the development of the fetus.

Distribution of carbonic anhydrase isozyme VI in the developing bovine parotid gland.

The distribution of bovine carbonic anhydrase isozyme VI (CA-VI), purified from bovine saliva, was studied immunohistochemically using antiserum against bovine CA-VI in bovine parotid glands during fetal and postnatal development. A weak expression of CA-VI in undifferentiated epithelial cells and ductal cells was observed in a 4- to 5-month-old fetus with a 26-cm crown-rump length. The reaction in both acinar and ductal cells subsequently persisted during late gestation and birth. Although anti-CA-VI reactivity was still seen in both regions immediately following birth, the reactivity had almost completely disappeared from most duct segments by 1 month following birth. Changes in the localization and time-dependent expression of the isozyme in parotid glands may reflect changes in the biological function of structurally closely related isozymes.

The salivary glands. Embryology, anatomy, and surgical applications.

This article discusses the embryology and surgical treatment of diseases of the salivary glands, which require precise knowledge of anatomy. Knowledge of the course of the facial nerve enables safe removal of parotid tumors. The submandibular gland is associated intimately with the lingual and hypoglossal nerves.

Misplaced parotid glands: bilateral agenesis of parotid glands associated with bilateral accessory parotid tissue.

Agenesis of the parotid is a rare entity. It is usually unilateral but bilateral cases have been described as a rare cause of xerostomia. Accessory parotid tissue is also uncommon and is not normally associated with aplasia of the parotid gland. The embryological, histological, clinical and radiological findings of these two entities will be discussed in addition to the report of an obscure case of bilateral parotid agenesis together with bilateral accessory parotid tissue.

The Chievitz juxtaparotid organ.

The Chievitz juxtaparotid organ represents a macroscopic longitudinal formation, which is developed from oral cavity ectoderm in its lateral wall. As to its function, the organ probably represents a mechanosensor with different qualities of perception. The information coming from its sensors takes part in different activities of the lateral wall of oral cavity during sucking, swallowing, mastication, speech, protecting reflexes and wall tonus. The Chievitz juxtaparotid organ is not only a morphologically interesting structure, but is of great importance also for clinic and surgical pathology of the oral cavity.