Rapamycin and age-related changes in marmoset submandibular gland
In marmoset submandibular glands, aging was linked to loss of acinar units and more fibrosis, lipid dysregulation and senescent cells; chronic oral rapamycin was associated with partial preservation of acinar structure and fewer of these changes. [1]
Automatic summary · not editorially reviewed
The key findings
The common marmoset is proposed as a translational model because its submandibular gland histology closely resembles humans, unlike rodent glands. [1]
With aging, marmoset submandibular glands showed fewer mucous and serous acinar units and more apoptotic and senescent cells. [1]
Chronic oral rapamycin was associated with partial preservation of acinar structure and a tissue phenotype closer to younger animals. [1]
The source at a glance
- Study type / format
- Animal study (non-human primate model); abstract only
- Population / context
- Common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus), a short-lived non-human primate; submandibular gland tissue.
- Summary based on
- Study abstract
- Original publication
- June 22, 2026
Marmoset model of human salivary gland aging
The abstract notes that human submandibular gland aging is poorly understood because human tissue is scarce and rodent glands differ in anatomy and physiology. The common marmoset, a short-lived non-human primate whose submandibular gland histology closely resembles humans, is proposed as a translational model. The study examined age-associated structural and molecular alterations in marmoset submandibular glands and asked whether chronic oral rapamycin, an mTOR inhibitor, mitigates them.
Supporting source [1]
Acinar loss, fibrosis and senescent cells with age
Histological and immunofluorescence analyses showed a substantial decline in mucous and serous acinar units, expansion of ductal and collagen-rich stromal compartments, increased extracellular matrix remodeling, elevated dysregulation of lipid metabolism, and more apoptotic and senescent cells in the submandibular gland with aging. Rapamycin treatment was associated with partial preservation of acinar structure and a reduction in fibrosis, lipid accumulation, and numbers of apoptotic and senescent cells, giving an overall tissue phenotype closer to that of younger animals.
Supporting source [1]
Abstract-only scope and association, not causation
The authors conclude that the aging marmoset submandibular gland recapitulates key features of human salivary gland aging and that rapamycin was associated with attenuation of hallmarks of gland degeneration. They propose the marmoset as a valuable non-human primate model for studying salivary gland aging and testing therapies aimed at attenuating age-related structural degeneration linked to gland dysfunction. These are associations in an animal model; the abstract does not report sample sizes, treatment duration or whether the findings translate to human lifespan or clinical benefit.
Supporting source [1]
How to interpret this
Abstract only; the full text was not reviewed. The abstract reports no sample sizes, treatment duration, dosing or control details, and the rapamycin findings are associations in a non-human primate model, not evidence of human lifespan or clinical benefit.
Based on the study abstract; the full paper, tables and supplementary data were not reviewed.
Source & supporting passages
Abdul-Azees PA, Wang H, Chen J, Marinkovic M, Dean DD, Chen XD, Salmon AB, Yeh CK. · europepmc.org · June 22, 2026