Hormonal influence on salivary glands of chimney swift (Chaetura pelagica) in organ culture

Abstract

AbstractSalivary glands from chimney swifts taken at intervals during the reproductive season were maintained in organ culture in a chemically defined medium supplemented with insulin, glucagon, prolactin, corticosterone, testosterone and crude pituitary extract in various combinations. Insulin and corticosterone or glucagon promoted survival of the tissues in vitro and insulin plus corticosterone or glucagon promoted secretory activity. Prolactin, crude pituitary extract or testosterone did not promote secretion. Essenially one hundred percent of the cultured explants survived when incubated at 37°C. However, at 44°C a large proportion of the explants failed to survive except in the presence of insulin plus corticosterone or glucagon. Prolactin did not promote survival at high incubation temperature. Hormones primarily concerned with carbohydrate metabolism appear to play an important role in in vitro survival and secretion. The appearance of secretion in vitro may be owing to the support of secretory processes initiated in vivo prior to the culture period.