title: Cell biology of human salivary secretion.
abstract: We treated surgical specimens of human parotid and submandibular glands in vitro to manipulate the receptor-signaling cascade pharmacologically and analyzed cellular responses by light microscopy on epoxy embedded sections. Treatment of specimens with the b-agonist, isoproterenol, and with the second messenger analog, dibutyryl cyclic AMP, stimulated serous acinar cells to engage in exocytosis and degranulation. The muscarinic agonist, carbachol, and the calcium ionophore, A23187, on the other hand, elicited formation of "vacuoles" in the cytoplasm of serous acinar cells. Taking previous in vivo human and animal studies into account, these changes are suggested as the morphological expression of enzyme release and fluid secretion, respectively. Specimens obtained from patients over 70 years old exhibited poor response even though their morphological appearance remained intact. Aged salivary glands are thus suggested to experience a decline in their secretory activity at the cellular level, probably by impairment of the signaling processes downstream to the receptor activation and second messenger production.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Kitasato University, Sagamihara, Japan. segawa@kitasato-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Segawa
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Loffredo
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Puxeddu
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yamashina
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Testa Riva
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Riva
mesh_terms: D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D003994:Bucladesine / Q000494:pharmacology; D015550:Cell Degranulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007545:Isoproterenol / Q000494:pharmacology; D010306:Parotid Gland / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism; D022142:Secretory Vesicles / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D013363:Submandibular Gland / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D003994:Bucladesine; D007545:Isoproterenol