Effects of tachykinins on the secretion of fluid and glycoproteins from the submandibular glands of rat, mouse, hamster and guinea pig.

Abstract

The effects of substance P, neurokinin A, physalamine, and eledoisin on the secretion of fluid and glycoproteins from the submandibular glands of various rodents were investigated. Following i.v. injection of each peptide at a dose of 20 micrograms/kg, the major glycoprotein species secreted from rats and guinea pigs were shown to be electrophoretically identical with those found in the acini. However, saliva was not elicited from the mice and hamsters. These results suggest that in both rats and guinea pigs, tachykinins act on the acinar cells of the submandibular gland only.