von Ebner's glands intercalated duct adenocarcinoma with PALB2 gene mutation.

Secretory carcinoma of the salivary glands is a distinct entity with distinct morphologic features, immunohistochemical profile and molecular alterations. It mainly affects middle aged individuals with slight male predominance and parotid gland is the most common site of involvement. Although ETV6-NTRK3 gene fusion is considered pathognomonic for secretory carcinoma, advances in molecular profiling of this tumor have led to the discovery of novel ETV6 fusion partners and gene mutations. Herein, we describe a case of an adenocarcinoma of intercalated duct origin favor secretory carcinoma, in a unique location of von Ebner's glands of mobile tongue in a 40-year-old Caucasian female. Aside from being in a unique location, the tumor showed somatic mutation for PALB2 gene which has not been described so far in secretory carcinoma. Discovery of novel fusions and mutations have therapeutic implications with respect to targeted therapy.

Antioxidant enzyme immunoreactivity in rat von Ebner gland after nickel treatment.

Our study was designed to clarify the role of antioxidant enzymes in the rat von Ebner gland during acute nickel toxicity. After treatment with nickel acetate, we monitored ultrastructural alterations in acinar and ductal cells, immunohistochemical staining for glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione S-transferases (GST mu and GST pi), and immunoreactivity for malondialdehyde (MDA). Immunoreactivity for MDA was present only in the acinar cells, and it was enhanced at 3 h after Ni treatment. In contrast, immunoreactivities for GPx and GSTs did not change in acinar cells but significantly increased in ductal cells after Ni treatment. Cytoplasmic vacuoles increased in acinar cells at 3 h after Ni treatment, but they almost completely disappeared at 24 h. No morphological changes were observed in taste bud cells from Ni-treated rats. Because lipid peroxidation, as monitored by immunoreactivity for MDA, was only transiently increased in the acinar cells, the enhanced antioxidant enzyme immunoreactivity in ductal cells of the von Ebner gland plays a crucial role in the self-defense system against nickel toxicity in the rat oral cavity.