Carbonic anhydrase VI (CA VI) is a secreted enzyme produced predominantly by serous acinar cells of submandibular and parotid glands. We have investigated the developmental pattern of CA VI production by these glands in the sheep, from fetal life to adulthood, using immunohistochemistry. Also, a specific radioimmunoassay for CA VI was used to measure changes in enzyme expression in the parotid gland postnatally. CA VI is detectable by immunohistochemistry in parotid excretory ducts from 106 days gestation (term is 145 days), in striated ducts from 138 days and in acinar cells from I day postnatal. The duct cell content of CA VI declined as the acinar cell population increased, a feature also of CA VI immunoreactivity in the submandibular gland. Production of CA VI by submandibular duct cells was detectable initially at 125 days gestation, and acinar production was not seen before 29 days post-natal. Apart from the differing ontogeny of CA VI production in ducts and acini of parotid and submandibular glands, there was a parallel pattern of CA VI expression during the development of these major salivary glands. With the development of the acinar tissues in the postnatal lamb, there was a dramatic increase (about 600-fold) in the level of expression of CA VI in the parotid gland between days 7 and 59 as measured by radioimmunoassay.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Research Division:	Biological Sciences
Research Group:	Biochemistry and cell biology
Research Field:	Cell metabolism
Objective Division:	Expanding Knowledge
Objective Group:	Expanding knowledge
Objective Field:	Expanding knowledge in philosophy and religious studies
UTAS Author:	Penschow, JD (Dr Jennifer Penschow)
ID Code:	11637
Year Published:	1997
Web of Science® Times Cited:	13
Deposited By:	Biochemistry
Deposited On:	1997-08-01
Last Modified:	2011-08-12
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