MORPHOLOGY OF GLANDULAR AREA OF HARD PALATE MUCOSA IN INTACT ALBINO RATS

Abstract

Some reports state that the morphology, histochemistry and innervation of mucous membrane in rats are quite similar to that in humans. Most experimental studies on the impact of certain factors on the human body involve laboratory animals, rats in particular. In our previous experimental studies we used rats to study the effect of acrylic monomer on salivary glands in order to further extrapolate data to the morphological features of minor salivary glands of rats and humans. This study was aimed at investigating morphology of glandular area of the hard palate mucosa of intact albino rats with subsequent extrapolation of the results obtained to human body. The experimental studies were conducted on adult Wistar rats aged 1 to 1.5 years. The light microscopy (slight magnification) of transverse sections of the hard palate mucosa samples of albino rats revealed the mucous membrane and well-developed submucous layer with numerous minor salivary glands within its structure. The findings confirm the similarity between the structure of minor salivary glands of rats and humans that supports the rational choice of experimental animals for subsequent extrapolation of the resulting data.</jats:p