A morphological post mortem profile in minor salivary glands changes in females

Women experience several systemic changes over all stages of life, many due to hormonal fluctuations. The sensation of dry mouth is the most common oral clinical symptom in women from climacteric period onwards, suggesting that sex hormones are important in maintaining salivary glands and oral homeostasis. Although the oral cavity is not conventional considered a target tissue for oestrogen, the extent to which salivary glands morphology and function are impacted by ageing and hormonal variations remain unknown. Due to the clinical demand for understanding oral changes related to the ageing process, this study aimed to portray the glandular morphological aspects in female during the different stages of life. To achieve this, 85 post-mortem specimens of labial minor salivary glands were obtained from females; they were distributed into three groups: group I (reproductive phase: up to 44 years, n = 18); group II (climateric phase: 45–55 years, n = 21) and group III (post-menopausal phase: over 56 years, n = 46). The most significant changes observed included degenerative parenchymal aspects including the replacement of parenchymal structures by fibrous tissue, inflammatory infiltrate as well as vascular and endothelial changes. Ageing was associated with acinar serous metaplasia (p = 0.011), acinar fibrosis (p = 0.042) and ductal ectasia (p = 0.003). The process of acinar atrophy was observed in all groups, with an increase in severity in group III. These degenerative aspects appear to be age-dependent.