title: Beta-adrenoceptors in the rat parotid gland enlarged by salivariectomy and bulk diet. Effects of denervation.
abstract: The numbers of beta-adrenergic receptors and level of cyclic AMP (cAMP) of the parotid gland of adult female rats were determined 4 weeks after introduction of a regimen that induced a 2-fold increase in gland weight. This regimen consisted of ablation of the submandibular-sublingual glands and substitution of the normal chow diet with a bulk diet consisting of 50% inert cellulose and 50% ground solid chow. There was a 2.4-fold increase in number (density) of beta-adrenoceptors in the enlarged parotid gland when comparison was made with parotid glands of control rats. The beta-adrenoceptor present in the enlarged and normal glands was of the beta 1 subtype. Removal of either autonomic pathway at the time of partial salivariectomy and dietary substitution was followed by a small reduction in number of beta-adrenoceptors (4-9% with either denervation), but when both nerves were removed the reduction was 25%; in magnitude, these changes were generally similar to those observed with denervated parotid glands of chow-fed rats. The norepinephrine concentration of the enlarged gland was much less than that of normal glands (reduced 38%); sympathectomy of normal or enlarged parotid glands resulted in a marked lowering of norepinephrine concentrations (to 1-5% of control levels); parasympathectomy had no effect on norepinephrine concentration of enlarged parotid glands but caused a decrease in that of the parotid of normal size. Apparently, the number of beta-adrenoceptors depends on the degree of activity of both the parasympathetic and sympathetic nerves to the parotid.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism; D003714:Denervation; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005728:Ganglia, Sympathetic / Q000502:physiology / Q000601:surgery; D006984:Hypertrophy; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000378:metabolism; D009929:Organ Size; D010275:Parasympathetic Nervous System / Q000601:surgery; D010306:Parotid Gland / Q000294:innervation / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta / Q000032:analysis*; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000378:metabolism / Q000601:surgery*; D013361:Sublingual Gland / Q000378:metabolism / Q000601:surgery; D013363:Submandibular Gland / Q000378:metabolism / Q000601:surgery; D013562:Sympathectomy
chemical_list: D004043:Dietary Fiber; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D009638:Norepinephrine