Abstract
Summary
Electrolytes and amylase concentrations of rat saliva which is evoked by physalaemin, are virtually identical to those found in saliva evoked by stimulation of postganglionic cholinergic nerve fibers. Mean Na concentrations of parotid and submaxillary saliva were found to be respectively, 139 ± 4 and 32 ± 5, and K, 20 ± 4 and 46 ± 2; submaxillary flow rate was higher than flow rate from parotid, but both exhibited the high rates characteristic of cholinergic nerve stimulation; amylase concentration of parotid saliva was about 20 mg/mg. The secretion was, however, neither blocked nor modified in any way when the cholinergic blocking agent atropine was present. Furthermore, it was not modified by the presence of either α or β adrenergic blocking agents, or all three blocking agents simultaneously. An indiscriminate action on all receptor sites is thus ruled out. These data provide further evidence for the conclusion previously indicated (1-3) that this agent causes secretion by a direct action on gland cells that differs from that usually produced by autonomic transmitter substances.
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