Significance of adrenergic alpha-effect on salivary kallikrein secretion in the submandibular gland of the dog

Abstract

The effects of the sympathetic nerve stimulation and the administrations of sympathomimetics on the secretion of salivary kallikrein induced by the chorda tympani stimulation were examined quantitatively and qualitatively in the submandibular gland of the dog. The secretion of salivary kallikrein may be mediated through both adrenergic alpha- and beta-receptors. The activities of salivary kallikrein secreted by either the chorda tympani stimulation or isoproterenol were not inhibited by soy bean trypsin inhibitor in vitro, but those secreted by the sympathetic nerve stimulation and noradrenaline or adrenaline were markedly inhibited in vitro. These results suggested that secretion of glandular kallikrein was induced by the chorda tympani stimulation and the sympathetic beta-stimulation, and secretion of plasma kallikrein was induced by the sympathetic alpha-stimulation.