Effect of streptozotocin induced diabetes mellitus on the morphology of rat submandibular salivary gland

This study was done to examine the response of the rat submandibular salivary glands to streptozotocin induced diabetes mellitus. 30 adult male albino rats were used, 15 of them as control and the rest were given a single I.V dose of streptozotocin [65mg/kg body weight] to induce diabetes. The submandibular salivary glands of both control and experimental animals were examined by light and electron microscopy at 3,6,12 weeks post treatment. There was a reduction in secretory granules content of the granular ducts and accumulation of lipid in the acinar cells. With increasing duration of diabetes, the number of secondary lysosomal structures in both acini and granular ducts was apparently increased