Effects of .ALPHA.-D-N-acetylneuraminyl cholesterol on the pilocarpine-induced salivary response and salivary gland acetylcholine and choline levels in mice.

Abstract

It has been suggested that α-D-N-acetylneuraminyl cholestero1 (α-SC) affects the activation of nerve cells. In the present study, the effects of α-SC (1 and 10mg/kg, p. o.) on the sublingual and submandibular glands of naive and reserpinized mice were examined. In naive mice, α-SC increased ACh levels in the sublingual gland and decreased Ch levels in the sublingual and submandibular glands. In mice treated with reserpine (0.5 and lmg/kg, s. c.), which induces the depletion of norepinephrine storage in terminals of sympathetic neurons, ACh and Ch levels in the sublingual and submandibular glands increased.α-SC (1mg/kg) inhibited this increase in ACh levels in reserpinized mice, but did not affect the increase in Ch levels. In naive and reserpinized mice, α-SC further enhanced pilocarpine-induced salivary secretion. These findings suggest that α-SC exerts some influence on the parasympathetic nervous system and promotes the salivary response.