Gross and histological study on the minor salivary glands of camel (Camelus dromedarius)

Histological and histochemical investigations were carried out on the minor salivary glands of 7 adult male one-humped camels (Camelus dromedarius). All minor salivary glands of the camel (except the von Ebner's glands), were tubuloalveolar and mixed (predominantly mucous). The von Ebner's glands of the camel were acinar and purely serous. The labial, buccal and palatine salivary glands were compound. In the inferior portion of the cheeks, in addition to mixed glands there were also purely serous glands. The von Ebner's glands and lingual salivary glands were present at the root of the tongue. The palatine salivary glands were located in the caudal part of the hard palate and in the entire length of the soft palate. The palatine gland was most numerous at the apex of the soft palate. There was lymphatic tissue (like a tonsil) in the soft palate.

The results of histochemical studies were shown that the minor salivary glands of the camel were rich in both neutral and acidic mucopolysaccharides. The finding of the present study was compared with those reported for human and other vertebrates.