The action of physalaemin on electrolyte excretion by the mandibular and sublingual salivary glands of the rat

Regulation mode of evaporative cooling underlying a strategy of the heat-tolerant FOK rat for enduring ambient heat

Compared with other rat strains, the inbred FOK rat is extremely heat tolerant. This increased heat tolerance is due largely to the animal's enhanced saliva spreading abilities. The aims of the present study were to 1) quantify the heat tolerance capacity of FOK rats and 2) determine the regulatory mode of the enhanced salivary cooling in these animals. Various strains of rats were acutely exposed to heat. In the heat-intolerant strains, saliva spreading was insufficient and the core temperature (Tc) rose rapidly. In contrast, FOK rats maintained an elevated Tc plateau (39.5 +/- 0.7 degrees C) for 5-6 h over a wide range of ambient temperatures (Ta) (37.5-42.5 degrees C). In hot environments the FOK rats secreted copious amounts of saliva and spread it over more than the entire ventral body surface. FOK rats had a low Tc threshold for salivation, and the salivation rate increased linearly in proportion to the Tc deviation from the threshold. No strain difference or temperature effect was observed in the saliva secretion rate from in vitro submandibular glands perfused by sufficient doses of ACh. These results suggest that 1) the ability of FOK rats to maintain a moderate steady-state hyperthermia (39.5 +/- 0.7 degrees C) over a wide Ta range is enabled by a lowered threshold Tc for salivation and functional negative-feedback control of saliva secretion and 2) strain differences in ability to endure heat stress are mainly attributable to changes in the thermoregulatory control system rather than altered secretory abilities of the salivary glands.

Differences in thermal salivation between the FOK rat (a model of genotypic heat adaptation) and three other rat strains

Rats secrete saliva in response to heat. In the present study, details of thermal salivation were investigated using the FOK rat in comparison with Sprague-Dawley (SD), Donryu, and ACI rats. The FOK rat is a strain inbred for genotypic heat adaptation and endures heat for long periods. Conscious rats of all four strains were exposed to 42.5 degrees C. The order of heat endurance times at this temperature was FOK >> SD > Donryu = ACI. FOK rats spread their saliva over their entire ventral surface, their faces, and their outside legs. This saliva area was wider than those made by the other three strains. SD rats spread in an area wider than those of the Donryu and ACI rats. Saliva spreading in the FOK rats continued for 4.0-4.5 h, far longer than in the other strains. Under ketamine anesthesia and exposure to 40 degrees C, the FOK rats secreted saliva at 1390+/-235 microL/100 g of body weight during a 60-min observation period. This was the highest rate among the four rat strains (p < 0.0001). The body temperature increase rate in anesthetized FOK and SD rats was lower than in the other two strains, suggesting a minor contribution of unknown factors. Ligation of the submandibular gland ducts abolished the thermal salivation of the FOK rats, whereas ligation of the parotid duct had no effect. The submandibular, sublingual, and lachrymal glands in the FOK rats were 1.3-1.5, 1.25-1.4, and 1.3-1.5 times heavier, respectively, than those in the other three strains, whereas the parotid gland of the FOK rats was not enlarged. These findings indicate that the rats' saliva spreading and ET values are significantly correlated. A potentiated and long-lasting salivation from the submandibular gland was acquired during development of genotypic heat adaptation. This salivation is actuated in response to heat. The pronounced thermal salivation is probably attributable to adaptive changes in the superior salivatory nucleus-chorda tympani-submandibular gland pathway.

Effect of synthetic physalaemin on splanchnic circulation in dogs

Physalaemin has been reported as one of the most potent vasodilator and hypotensive peptides (1-4). In spite of these studies, however, the effect of the peptide on splanchnic circulation is not known precisely. In the present study, the effect of synthetic physalaemin on superior mesenteric arterial blood flow, portal venous blood flow and pancreatic capillary blood flow was investigated in dogs. Dose dependent increases of superior mesenteric arterial blood flow and portal venous blood flow were induced in response to physalaemin (0.1-10.0 ng/kg). Superior mesenteric arterial blood flow and portal venous blood flow attained maximal increases of 77 +/- 8.9% and 70 +/- 8.6%, respectively, at a dose of 5 ng/kg. Physalaemin caused a dose-related decrease in systemic arterial blood pressure. Pancreatic capillary blood flow did not show significant change with the administration of physalaemin. These data suggest that physalaemin may play some physiological roles in the regulation of splanchnic circulation.

Effect of perfused rat mandibular-gland pHI on the ratio of procainamide concentration in saliva to that in venous effluent

The saliva to venous-effluent concentration ratio (S/E ratio) for procainamide (PA) was determined and compared with the ratio calculated by using the intracellular pH value of glandular cells. Exposed mandibular gland was perfused in situ with Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate buffer containing PA (10-100 micrograms/ml) and acetylcholine (ACh, 0.1 to 10 microM) or pilocarpine (10 microM). These perfusion conditions maintained almost normal physiological function of the mandibular gland throughout the perfusion period of 60 min, since the salivary Na+ and K+ concentrations were kept at almost constant levels, comparable with those reported in vivo, and the salivary flow, pH and protein level were also stabilized. Under fixed stimulation conditions with 1 microM ACh or 10 microM pilocarpine, the perfusate PA concentration ranging from 20 to 100 micrograms/ml did not affect the S/E ratio (approximately 0.3). There was a negative correlation between the S/E ratio and salivary pH when stimulated with 0.1 to 10 microM ACh. However, Matin's equation [S. B. Matin et al., Clin. Pharmac. Ther. 16, 1052 (1974)] employing venous effluent and salivary pH values did not explain fully these observed ratios. In contrast, Borzelleca's model [J. F. Borzelleca and J. W. Putney, J. Pharmac. exp. Ther. 174, 527 (1970)] for salivary drug transport using intracellular pH of the mandibular gland cells predicted S/E ratios relatively close to the observed values when the gland was perfused at pH 7.4 or 8.0.

Lateral nasal gland secretion in the anaesthetized dog

The effects of pharmacological and nervous stimuli on the flow of secretion from the dog lateral nasal gland following catheterization are described. Drugs were injected close-arterially into the arterial supply to the nose, or intravenously. Cholinergic agonists (pilocarpine, methacholine), given intravenously (I.V.) or intra-arterially (I.A.), and stimulation of the vidian nerve produced a copious flow of secretion which was blocked by atropine. The adrenoceptor agonists phenylephrine (alpha) and salbutamol (beta 2), given I.V. or I.A., and stimulation of the vagosympathetic nerve produced a small but consistent flow of secretion. Histamine (50 micrograms), substance P (0.1 micrograms) and prostaglandin E1 (1-5 micrograms), injected I.A., produced small flows of secretion. Bradykinin (25 ng-50 micrograms), 5-hydroxytryptamine (100 ng-50 micrograms) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) (10 ng-50 micrograms) did not cause secretion. The total protein content, the composition of secretions as revealed by sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide agarose gel electrophoresis, and changes in [Na] and [K] in relation to flow of secretion are described. Differences in ion and protein concentrations, and in protein composition, are described for vidian nerve-induced and vagosympathetically induced secretions. Electron microscopy revealed that the gland contains serous cells in the secretory region, and ducts morphologically similar to the intercalated, striated and excretory ducts of salivary glands.

A substance with immunoreactivity to the peptide physalaemin in mammalian respiratory tissue

Physalaemin (Mr = 1284) is a potent undecapeptide from the skin of South American frogs. The amino acid sequence of the COOH-terminal region of this peptide is similar to that of substance P. An antiserum specific for the NH2-terminal sequence of physalaemin enabled the quantitation and localization of physalaemin-like immunoreactivity (PSLI) in mammalian tissues. PSLI is found in acid extracts of whole trachea from rat, rabbit, and guinea pig and in the tracheal mucosal layer in the dog, cow, and pig. The concentration determined by radioimmunoassay ranged from 1 to 15 ng/g dry weight of tissue, with rat trachea containing the highest amount. Gel filtration of an extract of rabbit trachea on Bio-Gel P-4 revealed a single peak of immunoreactivity that had an approximate Mr of 1700, similar to that detected in extracts of guinea pig and rabbit stomach. In contrast to amphibian physalaemin, mammalian PSLI 1) has a higher molecular weight, 2) is resistant to alpha-chymotrypsin or trypsin digestion, 3) elutes earlier from a C18 alkylsilane resin with increasing concentrations of methanol, and 4) can be separated from physalaemin by thin-layer chromatography. These data indicate that the mammalian PSLI is different in structure from the amphibian peptide.

A neuropeptide in mammalian tissues with physalaemin-like immunoreactivity

Erspamer et al. isolated several structurally related non-mammalian peptides, termed tachykinins, with biological activities similar to substance P (refs 2, 3). This similarity is due to a common COOH-terminal region, whereas the specific action of each member of the group depends on its unique NH2-terminal sequence. Based on these properties, parallel bioassays using numerous smooth muscle preparations and physiological parameters allow them to be generally distinguished. However bioassays are time consuming and not highly specific. Thus, we developed a rapid physalaemin-specific radioimmunoassay that led to the initial discovery of a substance in mammalian tissues with an immunoreactivity resembling that of the original amphibian peptide. We now present data on the distribution, localization and partial characterization of physalaemin-like immunoreactivity (PSLI) in tissues of several mammalian species.

Electrolyte and protein secretion by the perfused rabbit mandibular gland stimulated with acetylcholine or catecholamines

1. A method is described for the isolation and vascular perfusion in vitro of the mandibular gland of the rabbit. The perfusate is a physiological salt solution containing glucose as the only metabolic substrate.2. During perfusion with solutions containing acetylcholine, the gland secretes vigorously at a rate and in a manner similar to that seen in vivo. Although the gland becomes oedematous during perfusion, the extent of this oedema appears to have no influence on secretory ability: the perfused glands were capable of functioning for at least 4 h, and often for more than 6 h.3. Acetylcholine evoked a small secretory response at a concentration of 8 x 10(-9) mol l(-1) and a maximum response at 8 x 10(-7) mol l(-1). Eserine (2 x 10(-5) mol l(-1)) evoked secretory responses comparable to those evoked by acetylcholine in a concentration of 8 x 10(-9) mol l(-1). Secretion, whether unstimulated or evoked by acetylcholine or eserine, could be blocked completely by atropine.4. During prolonged stimulation with acetylcholine, the fluid secretory response declined rapidly over a period of about 15 min from an initial high value to a much lower plateau value. After 3 or more hours of stimulation, the secretory response began once more to decline, this time towards zero. If, before the second period of decline begins, stimulation is interrupted for about 30 min, the gland recovers its initial responsiveness to further stimulation with acetylcholine.5. The Na, K, Cl and HCO(3) concentrations and the osmolality of acetylcholine evoked saliva exhibited flow-dependency similar to that seen in vivo. The concentrations of Na and Cl, but not K and HCO(3), increased by about 25 mmol l(-1) during periods of prolonged stimulation with acetylcholine even though the salivary secretory rate was constant. The concentrations of K and HCO(3), but not Na and Cl, increased progressively as the concentration of infused acetylcholine was increased.6. Salivary protein secretion increased with increasing concentrations of acetylcholine to a greater extent than did fluid secretion. During continuous stimulation, the rate of protein secretion fell off much faster than the rate of fluid secretion.7. The beta-adrenergic agonist isoproterenol evoked a fluid secretory response only equal to about 5% of that evoked by acetylcholine, but still the response declined during continued stimulation. The electrolyte composition of isoproterenol-evoked saliva was vastly different from that evoked by acetylcholine, being particularly rich in K and HCO(3). The isoproterenol-evoked saliva was also extremely rich in protein so that the total protein secretion evoked by isoproterenol was much greater than that evoked by acetylcholine.8. The alpha-adrenergic agonist phenylephrine was without stimulatory effect on salivary fluid secretion and caused a reduction in the secretory response to acetylcholine. The drug had little or no effect on the electrolyte content of acetylcholine-evoked saliva and appeared to reduce its protein content.