Neuron-specific enolase reduction in irradiated salivary glands of the rat--an immunohistochemical study.

Neuron-specific enolase (NSE) in the salivary glands of normal and irradiated rats was studied by immunohistochemical methods. The normal salivary gland of Sprague-Dawley rats (465 g) showed positive staining for NSE in striated ducts and granular convoluted tubule (GCT) cells. A single radiation, TDF (time, dose, fractionation factor) 100 and 200 (18.82 Gy and 27.97 Gy, respectively) was done, and 4 groups (1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks after radiation) of 5 rats each were used. Irradiated salivary glands indicated a remarkable reduction of NSE staining in GCT cells and a reduction but to a lesser degree in the striated duct of the submandibular gland. Immunohistochemical deposition of NSE was not changed in the sublingual glands of irradiated rats. The reduction of NSE immunodeposition was irradiation dose dependent.