title: Immunohistochemical study on GABAergic system in salivary glands.
abstract: Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and its receptors are found in the central nervous system and several peripheral tissues. The purpose of this study was to determine the expression and distribution of GABA and glutamate decarboxylase (GAD), a GABA biosynthetic enzyme, in rat salivary gland. Western blot and real time quantitative RT-PCR revealed that GAD67 was the major isoform of GAD in the salivary glands. Furthermore, both GABA and GAD were detected around the acinar cells in the submandibular glands by immunohistochemical analysis. When both sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves related to the submandibular glands were denervated, the immunoreactivities of GABA and GAD were dramatically depressed, and levels of GAD67 and GABA significantly decreased. However, no morphological changes in the glands were observed after denervation. These results indicate that GAD67 is present around acinar cells in the salivary glands, and suggest that the GABAergic system in the glands is closely related to the autonomic nervous system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Oral Health Science Center, Tokyo Dental College, 1-2-2 Masago, Mihama-ku, Chiba 261-8502, Japan.
authors.forename: Yasuhiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kosuge
authors.forename: Mitsuru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kawaguchi
authors.forename: Kohei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sawaki
authors.forename: Migiwa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Okubo
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shinomiya
authors.forename: Takayuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sakai
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression; D005968:Glutamate Decarboxylase / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000378:metabolism*; D013363:Submandibular Gland / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D007527:Isoenzymes; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D005968:Glutamate Decarboxylase