Salivary Gland - Amyloid

Amyloid deposition in tissues (amyloidosis) is a systemic disease that is rare in B6C3F1, BALB/c, and C3H mice but common in CD-1, A, Swiss Webster, SJL, and B6 mice and can be a cause of death. The incidence can be increased in association with fighting among group-housed males and with ectoparasitism. Amyloid appears as an amorphous, eosinophilic, hyaline, extracellular substance that, with progressive accumulation, results in atrophy of adjacent cells and tissue. In the salivary gland, the amyloid can cause atrophy of the salivary gland acini (Figure 1 and Figure 2). In the esophagus and small intestine, the disease appears to begin as a deposition of amyloid in the submucosa. Amyloid deposits in the glomeruli of the kidney are usually the cause of death in animals that die with amyloidosis. Congo red stains amyloid orange to orange red and under polarized light imparts a light green, so-called apple green, fluorescence.