title: Tracheal gland mucous cells stimulated in vitro with adrenergic and cholinergic drugs.
abstract: To determine the responsiveness of tracheal mucous cells to adrenergic and cholinergic stimulation, we analyzed changes in their structure induced by neurotransmitter-like agonists. Ferret tracheal rings were exposed for 30 min in vitro to one of the following: phenylephrine, isoproterenol, or bethanechol (all at 10(-5) M), in the presence of absence of appropriate antagonists. Electron microscopy and morphometric analysis revealed that the volume density of mucous cells (Vvmc, i.e. the space occupied by mucous cells in the submucosa) significantly decreased, and the surface density of mucous cell apical membrane (Svam) increased in response to isoproterenol and bethanechol but not to phenylephrine. In metabolic labeling experiments, the morphological changes were accompanied by secretagogue-evoked release of 35S-labeled macromolecules. Taken together, these data suggest that tracheal mucous cells secrete 35S-labeled macromolecules in response to beta-adrenergic and muscarinic agonists by an exocytotic process that involves a reduction in cell size.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, University of Kosova, Prishtina, Yugoslavia.
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Gashi
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Nadel
authors.forename: C B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Basbaum
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018723:Bethanechol; D001626:Bethanechol Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003594:Cytoplasmic Granules / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005089:Exocytosis; D005289:Ferrets; D007545:Isoproterenol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000187:drug effects; D009116:Muscarine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010656:Phenylephrine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013462:Sulfur Radioisotopes / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D014132:Trachea / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D001626:Bethanechol Compounds; D013462:Sulfur Radioisotopes; D018723:Bethanechol; D010656:Phenylephrine; D009116:Muscarine; D007545:Isoproterenol