[Changes in the granular ducts of the submandibular gland in rats subjected to dietary deficiencies].

Lack of balance in protein diets induced structural modifications of the rat submaxillary glands. The granular ducts underwent a differentiation delay and a hypodevelopment under the effect of hypo and hyperproteinic diets. The optical microscope morphometric analysis showed that the total and single surfaces of the ducts were different in the groups with abnormal hypo or hyperproteinic diets compared to the control group. In TEM, the quantitative study showed that the number of cells with dense granules and the number of these granules were decreased in the hypoproteinic group. The mean number of granules was in contrast increased in the hyperproteinic group. The results are discussed in terms of duct differentiation, secretory function of the granular cells and equilibrium of the oral cavity.