Fig. 1

Morphology and marker expression in SMG and SLG. A H&E staining of a mouse embryonic submandibular gland (SMG, red dotted line) and sublingual gland (SLG, green dotted line) in the middle-late phase of development. Remarkably differentiated acinar cells are shown on E18.5, characterized by SMG with a majority of serous acinar cells and SLG with a majority of mucous acinar cells. B Salivary gland markers were detected by fluorescent staining. Aquaporin (AQP) 5 protein was localized in the cytomembrane of acinar cells. Smooth muscle α-actin (α-SMA) was revealed in the cytoplasm of myoepithelial cells and basal duct cells. Cytokeratin (KRT)19 was marked in luminal duct cells cytoplasm. Mesenchymal marker vimentin was expressed in mesenchymal cells and a few basal epithelial cells cytoplasm. Bar, 200 μm