OBJECTIVES: We previously reported that maternal exposure to genistein, vinclozolin, ingested alone or in combination, affects submandibular salivary glands of rats' offspring's. Here, we investigated the responsiveness of submandibular gland when such xenohormone exposure occurs later in life. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Chemicals were given orally to male and female Wistar rats (1mg/kg body weight per day), from weaning to adulthood. Submandibular glands and plasma were collected at postnatal day 100 for histological and molecular analysis. RESULTS: Whereas no effect was observed in females, increases in granular convoluted tubules area coupled with a modification of salivary secretions were found in male submandibular glands. Genistein and vinclozolin similarly increased the mRNA expression of Cystatin C, mucin10, Growth factors and plasmatic EGF. Negative correlations were found between the expressions of Androgen Receptor and EGF (-0.34; P <0.05), TGFalpha (-0.52; P<0.01), Mucin10 (-0.43; P<0.05) and Cystatin C (-0.42; P<0.05) as well as between progesterone receptor and EGF (-0.56; P<0.01). The Spearman correlation test revealed also a positive correlation between salivary EGF-mRNA expression and EGF in plasma (+0.32; P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Our findings confirm the sex-dependent sensitivity of submandibular salivary glands to dietary xenohormones and underline the influence of the exposure period.