Stem/progenitor cell dynamics during salivary gland development and regeneration demonstrated by the double pulse-chase paradigm

During development, GFP (+) EdU (-) LRCs were abundant in striated duct cells (SDCs) and GFP (+) EdU (+) LRCs were primarily localized to the intercalated duct cells (IDCs) at P21. Labeling of the GFP (+) LRCs faded as well as the EdU (+) LRCs at P70. During tissue repair, GFP (+) EdU (+) LRCs were colocalized in the IDCs and myoepithelium cells (MECs), whereas the GFP (+) EdU (+) acinar cells (ACs) appeared over time. These results suggest that salivary gland quiescent stem/progenitor cells are present in the IDCs during development and that quiescent stem/progenitor cells in the IDCs and MECs differentiate into ACs during tissue repair.