Effects of Prolonged Administration of Atropine and Pilocarpine on the Submaxillary Gland of the Cat.

Abstract

Summary. 1. The effects of prolonged administration of atropine and pilocarpine on the microscopic picture and on the adrenaline sensitivity of the submaxillary gland was studied in cats. 2. Subcutaneous injections of atropine sulphate (in doses increasing from 1 to 12—20 mg/kg, given twice a day) over a period of approximately one week caused changes in sbructure and adrenaline sensitivity similar to those seen after transection of the chorda tympani. 3. The structural and functional changes were not found after section of the chorda: in cats injected with pilocarpine hydrochloride twice daily (0.5 ± 1.0 mg/kg) for a week or more. Our thanks are due to Miss Gunhild Hansson for skilled help with the histological work. The expenses of this work were in part defrayed by a grant from “Stiftelsen Therese och Johan Anderssons Minne”.