Initial stages of development of the submandibular gland (human embryos at 5.5-8 weeks of development).

The aim of this study was to determine the main stages of submandibular salivary gland development during the embryonic period in humans. In addition, we studied submandibular salivary gland development in rats on embryonic days 14-16 and expression in the submandibular salivary gland region with the monoclonal antibody HNK-1. Serial sections from 25 human embryos with a greatest length ranging from 10 to 31 mm (Carnegie stages 16-23; weeks 5.