Background

Diabetes mellitus is a generalized notorious chronic disease characterized by hyperglycemia. Salivary glands play an important role in the oral health maintenance by production of saliva. One of the most common diseases that compromise salivary gland function is diabetes mellitus leading to xerostomia.

Aim

The aim of this study was to determine the histological findings and immunohistochemical expression of cytokeratin 17 (CK17) in normal and diabetic submandibular gland to give an explication about the pathological effects of diabetes mellitus on the intracellular structures of the gland parenchyma.

Materials and methods

Twelve healthy male albino rats were utilized in the experiment and divided into two equal groups (normal and diabetic). Forty‑five days postinduction of diabetes, submandibular gland was dissected out and prepared for both histological and immunohistochemical studies.

Results

Histological results confirmed that, submandibular gland of diabetic rats undergoes rapid, progressive and severe atrophy of the parenchymal elements accompanied by increases in the fibrous component and presence of fatty degeneration. The atrophied gland was characterized by loss of the gland architecture with the presence of degenerated acini, dilated duct system and formation of duct-like structure. Expression of CK17 using immunoperoxidase technique revealed a mild to moderate cytoplasmic expression in all duct cells and some acinar cells as well as the granular convoluted tubules of normal gland either diffuses or concentrated lateral and basal to the nucleus compared to strong expression of diabetic glands that concentrated at apical part of cells.

Conclusion

The intensity and diffusion of CK17 expression in our results foretells the pathological influence of diabetes mellitus to the intracellular filaments of salivary gland parenchyma that interfered with production and/or secretion of saliva leading to xerostomia.