Age-related changes in human sublingual glands: casual findings

Objectives: To analyze casual age- and gender-related microscopic changes in sublingual glands obtained from human cadavers. Methods: One hundred eighty six human sublingual glands were obtained from 93 autopsies. Approximately 5 individuals of each gender per decade of life were allocated to 3 age groups: group I (0-30 years, n = 26); group II (31-60 years; n = 32) and group III (61-90 years; n = 35). The specimens were fixed in 10% formalin and submitted to routine histological processing, and sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Results: Acinar autolysis and mucous derangement were casual microscopic changes found over all ages of the sample. Significant difference with increasing age was observed for acinar autolysis (r = 0.38; p = 0.0001). Discrete diffuse mucous derangement was mostly observed in group II (53.13% - r = 0.04; p = 0.6976). No significant differences were observed between genders. Conclusions: Despite the presence of acinar autolysis, microscopic analysis was not compromised, since glandular architecture and morphology were preserved and the autolytical process was setorial.