Long-term influence of sialoadenectomy on the liver of male albino rat.

Epidermal growth factor is an endocrine product of the submandibular gland; the liver is an important target of its action and is affected by sialoadenectomy. Thirty rats were used in this study and divided into group I (sham-operated animals), group II (sialoadenectomy after 4 weeks), and group III (sialoadenectomy after 10 weeks). Liver samples were processed for light and electron microscope examination. Sialoadenectomy induced mild-to-moderate liver damage which persists up to 10 weeks after the operation. This damage is manifested morphologically rather than functionally, affecting the general structure, hepatocytes, hepatic stellate cells, and hepatic sinusoids.