Abstract
The side-effects of many psychopharmacons, esp. antidepressants, namely inhibited salivation accompanied by dryness of the mouth, prompted us to investigate the effects on rat salivary glands of an Amitriptyline (Laroxyl®) treatment. In both the parotid and submaxillary gland, medication of different length resulted in proteodyschylic changes as well as alterations in the isoamylase patterns, and histochemically in decreased enzymatic activities. Especially the changes observed in the submaxillary gland are similar to the disturbed glandular function apparent after antihypertensive treatment, e.g., with Clonidine (Catapresan®) which we interpreted as a central neurogenic sialoadenosis. Therefore, besides exhibiting an atropine-like effect, antidepressants possibly also affect sympathetic centres in the medulla oblongata.
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