Glycoproteins of submaxillary saliva of the cat: differences in composition produced by sympathetic and parasympathetic nerve stimulation.

Abstract

Abstract— Saliva samples were obtained from the cannulated submaxillary ducts of the cat during stimulation of the peripheral cut end(s) of (1) the cervical sympathetic nerve, (2) the chordalingual (parasympathetic) nerve and (3) both nerves at the same time. In nine experiments the ratios of neuraminic acid to fucose and to hexosamine were consistently 2·5–4 times higher in saliva evoked by sympathetic nerve stimulation than in that produced by parasympathetic stimulation. This was not attributable to differences in the rate of synthesis of the carbohydrate of the glycoproteins or in salivary flow rate. The presence of glycolipids and blood glycoproteins was excluded. Saliva produced by stimulation of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves each showed a single, but different, peak after ultracentrifugation in 0·1 m‐NaCl with 0·01 m‐phosphate buffer (pH 7·4). The S20, w of the former was 6·5 and of the latter, 39. Both peaks were demonstrable in saliva produced when both nerves were stimulated at the same time.