title: Increases in nerve growth factor immunoreactivity in the submandibular gland, but not in the parotid gland, of the rat following sympathetic denervation.
abstract: The effect of sympathetic denervation on nerve growth factor (NGF) immunoreactivity in the submandibular and parotid glands of adult female rats using a two-site, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was investigated. Unilateral sympathetic denervation through the avulsion of the superior cervical ganglion resulted in elevated levels of total amounts (decreased from 40-20%) and concentrations (decreased from 45-32%) of NGF in the submandibular glands, but not in the parotid glands, on the operated side 7-28 days post-operatively. Sympathetic decentralisation had no effect. The present findings support the hypothesis that increased levels of NGF play an important part in the increased activity of the acetylcholine-synthesising enzyme, choline acetyltransferase, in the rat submandibular gland following sympathetic denervation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Physiology and Pharmacology, The Sahlgrenska Academy at Göteborg University, Box 431, SE-405 30, Göteborg, Sweden. jorgen.ekstrom@pharm.gu.se
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ekström
authors.forename: A-C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Reinhold
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D015171:Ganglionectomy; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000032:analysis*; D010306:Parotid Gland / Q000737:chemistry*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013363:Submandibular Gland / Q000737:chemistry*; D017783:Superior Cervical Ganglion / Q000601:surgery; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D020932:Nerve Growth Factor