[Histochemical modifications of sugar residues in glycoconjugates of human palatine glands during development and maturation].

Antecedents: Most of the literature has focused on the morphological and histochemical characteristics of palatine glands during the development histogenesis and maturation process. However, there are no publications regarding protein glycosylation and the distribution of glycoproteins with N and O-glycoside bonds, and their possible functional role.

Objective: Based on this background we committed ourselves to studying the human palatine glands in different age groups in order to determine the beginning of mucine secretion and the presence of glycoproteins with N and O-glycoside bonds during the processes of differentiation and maturation.

Materials And Method: Human palatine glands were obtained from embryos, fetuses, newborn infants, youngsters and adults. They were studied using histochemical methods (PAS, Dane, Alcian blue, Toluidine blue), and lectin histochemistry.

Results: The variations observed in glycoconjugates during the development and maturation of human palatine glands show that secretion starts at early stages of prenatal development; it is made up of various sugars that might play an important role in the pre-natal and postnatal periods.

Conclusions: The study of modifications in sugar residues in the human palatine glands during embryogenesis, differentiation and maturation processes allows us to have further knowledge of their histophysiology and possible changes taking place during aging. This study may also help to understand pathological processes in mature salivary glands.