Abstract

DE LACERDA, Suzie Aparecida et al. EFFECTS OF THE PRENATAL ADMINISTRATION OF CAFFEINE ON THE SUBMANDIBULAR GLAND OF RAT FETUSES. Int. J. Morphol. [online]. 2003, vol.21, n.1, pp. 37-42. ISSN 0717-9502.  doi: 10.4067/S0717-95022003000100006.

The effects of a single intraperitoneal injection of caffeine (10 mg/kg body weight) in the 10th day of rat pregnancy on the fetus, especially on the submandibular gland, were studied. At the microscopic examination, it was observed immature submandibular glands, constituted by solid cords and terminal buds, in the fetuses from the treated group. Morphometrically it was verified increased nuclear sizes in both the acinar and ductular cells of the injected group fetuses. The relative volumes occupied by either ducts and connective tissue were significantly higher in the submandibular glands of the injected group. No differences were demonstrated between both groups in the mean diameter of both acini and ducts, whereas the thickness of the acinar epithelium was lower in the treated group. The increased relative volume of ducts in the treated group fetuses, in spite of their similar diameters in both groups, is due, certainly, to an increase number of ducts in the submandibular gland in fetuses from rats injected with caffeine in the 10th day of pregnancy.

Keywords : Submandibular gland; Caffeine; Fetus; Rat; Histopathology; Morphometry.