The salivary gland produces enzyme-containing saliva to lubricate the oral cavity and assist with digestion. It consists of three pairs of major salivary glands and many minor ones in the oral cavity. Histology studies show that the salivary gland is a compound tubuloalveolar gland, surrounded by connective tissue to further divide the gland into lobes and lobules. The secretory end pieces consist of a spherical mass of cells called acinus. Mouse salivary gland fibroblasts (MSGF) are embryonic mesoderm derived mesenchymal cells and they are responsible for synthesis of extracellular matrix such as type I and/or type III collagen. MSGF are very versatile and provide a useful tool for studying collagenous fibroma and oral neoplasms.

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