Modern Pediatrics. Ukraine. (2025).7(151): 40-45. doi: 10.15574/SP.2025.7(151).4045
Gevkaliuk N. O., Sydliaruk N. I., Venger O. P., Mysula M. S.
Ivan Horbachevsky Ternopil National Medical University, Ukraine

For citation: Gevkaliuk NO, Sydliaruk NI, Venger OP, Mysula MS. (2025). The topography of major salivary glands in human prenatal ontogenesis period. Modern Pediatrics. Ukraine. 7(151): 40-45. doi: 10.15574/SP.2025.7(151).4045.
Article received: Jun 16, 2025. Accepted for publication: Nov 09, 2025.

The issues of salivary gland embryogenesis and perinatal diagnosis are poorly understood and ambiguous. Clarifying the features of the laying, development and formation of the topography of the salivary glands in the prenatal period of ontogenesis is important for a holistic understanding of the structural and functional organization of the salivary apparatus and the oral cavity, the interaction of organs and structures of the oral cavity.
Aim – to study the basic morphological processes of embryogenesis of the major human salivary glands, including the formation of rudiments of secretory and non-secretory acinar glands to assess the immune functions of the fetus and newborn.
Materials and methods. Material for the study of human salivary gland development in the prenatal period was obtained at the Ternopil Regional Pathological Bureau. The collected samples were fixed in 10% neutral formalin solution. From paraffin and epoxy blocks, we received thin slices. From epoxy blocks – cuts, painted with toluidine blue. On paraffin sections, general histological colorings were performed with hematoxylin-eosin, shik-alcian blue, shik-Alzianium blue + Bergan, immunohistochemical studies with grades CX-34, VEGF, and electron-microscopic studies.
Results. In the first stage of embryogenesis, the primary oral fossa was covered by a cuticle of peripheral epithelium. The determination of its immunohistochemical characteristics showed that it contained two varieties of epithelial cells that synthesize keratogialin. The germ of the salivary gland was formed as a result of the growth of the cuticular epithelium in the subjective mesenchyme. The immunohistochemical reaction to VEGF has shown that epithelial rudiments of mesenchyme gave enhanced expression of the marker. There was a phenomenon of vegetation because of the germic factor VEGF presence – the growth of the epithelium in subjective mesenchyme with the formation of primary excretory ducts. The third stage of gland embryogenesis was characterized by the appearance of inserted sections, as well as cross-strapped ducts, which had cells with Bergman-positive grains that formed the APUD system. The fourth stage was characterized by the formation of acinus rudiments, the epithelial cells of which had a shik-positive cytoplasm and a rounded nucleus, indicating a high synthetic activity of the cells.
Conclusion. The morphological study of large salivary glands during embryogenesis showed the stereotypical stages of morphogenesis: formation of a cuticle-peridermal epithelium in the primary oral fossa; its epithelial ingrowth into the underlying mesenchyme; formation of intercalated and striated ducts; formation of rudiments of secretive and non-secretive acinus glands.
The research was carried out in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. The study protocol was approved by the Local Bioethics Commission of an institution. For each fetus, informed consent from the mother to participate in the study was obtained.
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Keywords: perinatal immunology, embryogenesis, salivary glands.

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