title: [Effect of parasympathectomy on the salivary secretion of submandibular gland in rats].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of parasympathectomy on secretion of submandibular glands and the feasibility of treatment for xerostomia in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty Sprague-Dawley male rats weighing 200 - 300 g were randomly divided into the experimental group (n = 12), in which the right chorda-lingual nerve was cut, and the control group (n = 8). The secretion of submandibular gland was measured for 5 min by Schirmer test for both groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The stimulated saliva flow rate decreased on 1st, 12th and 24th week after denervation in the right operated submandibular glands (P < 0.05). No difference in secretion was found between the left non-operated glands and the control group. Comparing with the left non-operated gland and the control gland, the saliva flow rate at rest in the right operated submandibular gland increased on the 1st, 12th and 24th week (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  After parasympathectomy of rat submandibular glands, the saliva flow rate at rest increased in the denervated gland, which suggests that parasympathectomy of submandibular gland might be used as a therapy for xerostomia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.forename: Ning-Yan
authors.initials: NY
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Xiao-Feng
authors.initials: XF
authors.lastname: Shan
authors.forename: Feng-Ying
authors.initials: FY
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Li-Ling
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Guang-Yan
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Yu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D008297:Male; D017764:Parasympathectomy / Q000379:methods*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism*; D012472:Salivation; D013363:Submandibular Gland / Q000378:metabolism*; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000628:therapy