title: Muscarinic receptors of rat parotid gland enlarged by gland ablation and bulk diet. Effects of denervation.
abstract: The density of muscarinic binding sites was increased 10% in the rat parotid gland enlarged (2 times control) as a result of ablation of the submandibular-sublingual glands and maintenance of rats on bulk diet (50% inert cellulose plus 50% solid chow) for 4 weeks. When either the parasympathetic or sympathetic innervation to the gland was unilaterally removed at the time of submandibular-sublingual ablation and introduction of the bulk diet, the density of muscarinic receptors showed an even greater increase from levels of innervated glands of chow-fed controls (29%); with removal of both nerves, the increase was 39%. A 36% increase in cyclic guanosine monophosphate levels accompanied the increase in receptors of the enlarged gland, but when the parotid was denervated, there was no change in cyclic GMP. Absence of either or both nerves led to a maximal decrease of 24-29% in density of muscarinic receptors of parotid gland of chow-fed controls, but to no change in cyclic GMP levels. While autonomic influences mediate the changes in density of muscarinic receptors of parotid gland of chow-fed rats, some additional factor is apparently involved in their increase in the enlarged gland.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006152:Cyclic GMP / Q000378:metabolism; D003714:Denervation; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D010275:Parasympathetic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology; D010306:Parotid Gland / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D011813:Quinuclidinyl Benzilate / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D004043:Dietary Fiber; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic; D011813:Quinuclidinyl Benzilate; D006152:Cyclic GMP