title: Adrenergic beta receptors mediating submandibular salivary gland hypertrophy in the rat.
abstract: Multiple injections of dobutamine, a selective adrenergic beta-1 receptor agonist, or isoproterenol, a nonselective beta receptor agonist, produced significant dose-dependent enlargement of the submandibular glands of male rats. The glandular enlargement induced by dobutamine or isoproterenol was characterized by significant increases in glandular protein and nucleic acid content and a marked increase in the RNA/DNA ratio. Metoprolol, a selective beta-1 receptor antagonist, significantly inhibited the glandular enlargement induced by dobutamine or isoproterenol and produced a parallel shift in the isoproterenol dose-response curve. Metoprolol also inhibited the increased protein and nucleic acid content induced by dobutamine or isoproterenol. Multiple injections of selective adrenergic beta-2 receptor agonists, terbutaline, fenoterol or salmefamole, failed to produce submandibular gland enlargement. These results indicate that adrenergic beta-1 receptors mediate submandibular gland hypertrophy in the rat.
mesh_terms: D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D006332:Cardiomegaly / Q000139:chemically induced; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006984:Hypertrophy / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology; D007545:Isoproterenol / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008790:Metoprolol / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D011941:Receptors, Adrenergic / Q000502:physiology*; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta / Q000502:physiology*; D013363:Submandibular Gland / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D011941:Receptors, Adrenergic; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta; D008790:Metoprolol; D007545:Isoproterenol