Histochemical studies on seromucous‐ and mucoussecreting cells of human salivary glands

Human salivary and lacrimal glands have been studied with a variety of methods to demonstrate polysaccharides in tissue section. On the basis of these studies, an attempt has been made to clarify the classification of exocrine cells. Serous cells secrete proteinaceous material without significant polysaccharide in the secretory granules such as the pancreatic acinar cell and gastric chief cell. Seromucous cells secrete a watery product, but the secretory granules contain variable amounts of mucopolysaccharide in the secretory granule. Typical seromucous cells are found in the parotid gland, lacrimal gland, submaxillary gland and eccrine sweat glands. Mucous cells liberate a viscous product rich in mucopolysaccharide. The typical mucous cell is the intestinal goblet cell. Other examples are the mucous portion of the submaxillary gland, the entire sublingual gland, bronchial gland, and Brunner's gland. Human pancreatic acinar and gastric chief cells are unique as compared to other species since the secretory granules of these cells, usually considered to be serous, contain a small amount of neutral mucopolysaccharide.