Fig. 1.

Histological comparison of normal gland, ligated (atrophic) gland and 5 or 7 days deligated glands. a, b Normal, unoperated gland stained with H & E and AB/PAS, respectively, showing the typical appearance of acinar and ductal cells. c, d H & E and AB/PAS-stained sections of 2 weeks ligated gland showed extensive inflammation, dilatation of the duct lumen (arrow in c), and loss of glycoproteins from the acini (arrow in d). e, g H & E staining of 5 and 7 days deligated glands respectively. Several acini and ductal cells have recovered some of their size (arrows). Branched structures were often visible (arrowheads). f, h AB/PAS staining of 5 and 7 days deligated glands respectively, showing the recovery of glycoproteins content in the acini (arrows) and in the granular ducts (open arrow).