Three-dimensional observation of blood vessels supplying the gland proper and capsule of the mouse submandibular gland.

Previous studies have shown that submandibular glands suffering interruption of the blood circulation from the main supplying artery have more surviving parenchymal cells in their peripheral portion than in their central portion. Although the reason for this difference between the peripheral and central portions has not yet been clarified, the existence of collateral circulation has been suspected. The present study was designed to examine whether or not the vessels binding the gland proper to the capsule provide such collateral circulation. Silicone rubber or methacrylate was injected into the main artery supplying the mouse submandibular gland, in which the gland proper is wrapped by a capsule similar to that of the human submandibular gland, and then the gland was observed by both stereoscopic and scanning electron microscopy. Three-dimensional observations showed no communicating vessels between the gland proper and the capsule. Therefore, it is suggested that the parenchymal cells surviving in the ischemic peripheral portion of the submandibular gland are nourished by permeation of tissue fluid contained in the capsule.