title: Salivary gland morphology after alpha-adrenergic and cholinergic stimulation. An ultrastructural study.
abstract: The submandibular glands in 100 rats were subjected to different sialagogues: carbachol, clonidine, noradrenalin, and cyclocytidine. The morphological effects of these drugs were compared ultrastructurally. Clonidine, which is an alpha-2-agonist affected mostly the mucous cells, with formation of cytoplasmic vacuoles between the mucous droplets. Noradrenalin and cyclocytidine, both alpha-1-agonists, showed depletion of secretory granules in the serous cells. Noradrenalin also induced cytoplasmic disorganization with enlarged mitochondria, irregular endoplasmic reticulum, and shrinking of the secretory lumen. Carbachol, a cholinergic agonist, was found to produce widespread vacuolization in the cytoplasm of both serous and mucous cells. Small vesicles appeared and mitochondria were destroyed. To induce experimentally a complete depletion of granular serous cells, without other changes in ultrastructural morphology, cyclocytidine was found to be the most efficient drug.
authors: Department of Otolaryngology, Linköping University Hospital, Sweden.
authors: P G
authors: PG
authors: Lundquist
authors: L E
authors: LE
authors: Norberg
mesh_terms: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003504:Ancitabine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D002217:Carbachol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003000:Clonidine / Q000494:pharmacology; D003594:Cytoplasmic Granules / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D012472:Salivation / Q000187:drug effects; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical; D013363:Submandibular Gland / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D014617:Vacuoles / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D002217:Carbachol; D003504:Ancitabine; D003000:Clonidine; D009638:Norepinephrine