Effects of Substance P on Glycoprotein Secretion from Acinar Cells of the Rat Submandibular Gland

Abstract

Abstract-The action of substance P on glycoprotein secretion from acinar cells of the rat submandibular gland was described in this report. Salivation elicited by i.v. injection of 0.5 to 20 ug/kg of substance P was increased dose-dependently, and its flow rate was highest at the first 1 min. Major glycoprotein species secreted into saliva by substance P-stimulus were shown to be electrophoretically identical with those found in acini, but not granular convoluted tubules. These results support the view that substance P acts on acinar cells of the submandibular gland and stimulates secretion of saliva from the cells.

Effects of dobutamine and terbutaline on the secretion of glycoproteins from the acinar cells of the rat submandibular gland.

“…We found that characteristic glycoproteins in the acini are secreted into the saliva after stimulation by the non-specific 1 -adrenergic agent isoproterenol (15), as well as after stimulation by the cholinergic agent pilocar pine (16) and by substance P (17), whereas glycoproteins characteristic of the granular convoluted tubules are secreted in response to the a,-adrenergic agent, methoxamine (18,19).…”