Differences in parasympathetic vasodilator and salivary responses in the cat submandibular gland between lingual and chorda-lingual nerve stimulation.
Experimental activation of parasympathetic vasodilatation and salivation in the submandibular gland by a "pseudoreflex" method has definite advantages over other commonly used methods. However, it is unclear which stimulation sites allow for avoidance of direct activation of the parasympathetic efferents to this gland. We examined this question in heavily anesthetized (alpha-chloralose and urethane), artificially ventilated, cervically vago-sympathectomized cats, using the intersection of the chorda-lingual nerve and the submandibular gland duct ("the intersection") as our reference point. Both vasodilatation and salivation evoked by electrical stimulation of the lingual nerve were abolished by section of the chorda-lingual nerve (10 mm proximal to the intersection), provided the stimulation site was distal to the intersection by 4 mm or more. This salivation was abolished by the muscarinic receptor antagonist, scopolamine. Thus, by careful choice of stimulation site, submandibular gland responses mediated solely by reflex parasympathetic mechanisms can be evoked by lingual nerve stimulation in this preparation.
Sato
A
A
Department of Orofacial Functions, Tohoku University School of Dentistry, Sendai, Japan.
Izumi
H
H
Nakamura
I
I
Karita
K
K
D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D002814:Chorda Tympani Nerve / Q000502:physiology; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005260:Female; D008036:Lingual Nerve / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D018727:Muscarinic Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D010275:Parasympathetic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology*; D010646:Phentolamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D011433:Propranolol / Q000494:pharmacology; D012018:Reflex; D012472:Salivation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D012601:Scopolamine; D013363:Submandibular Gland / Q000098:blood supply / Q000294:innervation* / Q000378:metabolism; D013562:Sympathectomy; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000502:physiology*
D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D018727:Muscarinic Antagonists; D011433:Propranolol; D012601:Scopolamine; D010646:Phentolamine