Abstract
Xerostomia is the symptom of dry mouth often seen in patients who receive head and neck radiation therapy or in patients who have Sjögren's syndrome. The primary treatment to relieve xerostomia symptom is oral administration of pilocarpine, a parasympathomimetic agent with muscarinic action. Increase in salivary secretion induced by systemic administration of pilocarpine is considered to be mediated by actions on muscarinic cholinergic receptors in the central nervous system and salivary glands. In this study, we investigated the direct effect of pilocarpine on salivary fluid secretion in the isolated, perfused rat submandibular gland. Pilocarpine provoked salivary fluid secretion in a dose-dependent manner. The Na(+)-channel blocker tetrodotoxin had almost no effect on the pilocarpine-induced salivary fluid secretion, indicating that pilocarpine directly stimulates submandibular gland. Pilocarpine induced an increase in intracellular Ca(2+) concentration in dispersed submandibular gland cells at 37 degrees C, but not 25 degrees C. The salivary fluid secretion induced by pilocarpine was consisted of a rapid and transient phase and a subsequent sustained phase, which profile was different from that evoked by carbachol, another typical muscarinic agonist. Pilocarpine also induced Lucifer yellow secretion via paracellular route.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.