Abstract
Summary
Elimination of the postganglionic fibers from either branch of the autonomic nervous system, at 8 days of age, markedly modifies the course of postnatal change in amylase levels of rat parotid gland. Total gland amylase of parasympathectomized glands is, at all ages after 16 days, only 1/3 to 1/2 that of the innervated member of the pair; amylase activity per unit of wet weight or DNA was also lower. Since gland size and cell number are also concomitantly modified by the parasympathectomy, the reduction in total amylase activity of parotid appears to be chiefly a reflection of the decrease in gland mass; and the reduced activity per cell accounts for only a small portion of the decrease. On the other hand, removal of the superior cervical ganglion resulted in decrease of 50% in concentration as well as total amount per gland. Furthermore, since neither cell number (no change) nor gland size (10-12% change) of the sympathectomized gland is different from that of the innervated gland, the decrease in total amount of amylase was here chiefly attributed to the decrease per cell. Clarification of the separate roles of the two branches of the innervation depended on establishment of maximal gland levels of amylase; this was accomplished by a period of fasting prior to enzyme determination.
The authors thank Mrs. Jean Otwell for competent technical assistance.
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