Abstract
Summary
The effects of intravenous isoproterenol, phentolamine, and H56/28 on parotid and submaxillary secretions were studied in human volunteers. The control levels of flow rate, amylase, and total protein concentrations varied markedly among the subjects and in the same subject on different occasions. Despite this variability, isoproterenol consistently and markedly increased amylase and total protein concentrations in the parotid and submaxillary glands, with a greater effect on the parotid. The actions of isoproterenol on the salivery glands were blocked by beta adrenergic blockade, but enhanced by alpha adrenergic blockade, particularly in the parotid gland. These observations suggest that alpha and beta adrenergic receptors subserve opposing functions on the salivary glands, with beta having a stimulant action and alpha an inhibiting action. It was further concluded that the parotid and submaxillary glands differ from each other in resting values and responses to adrenergic drugs not only in different species, but also in the same species.
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