Dissociation of fluid secretion and energy supply in rat mandibular gland by high dose of ACh.

The effects of a high dose of acetylcholine (ACh) on oxygen consumption (VO2) and changes in phosphorus energy metabolites during secretion were studied in isolated perfused mandibular gland of rats at 24 degrees C. Sugar phosphates (SP), Pi, phosphocreatine (PCr), and ATP were identified by phosphorus-31 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. One micromole ACh induced a tachyphylactic secretory response, a persistently elevated VO2, and decreased PCr and ATP; 1 mM ACh caused an initial burst of secretion that was followed by suppression of secretion and a rapid increase in the VO2 to the same level as that with 1 microM ACh. These findings indicate a dissociation between secretion and VO2. During stimulation with 1 mM ACh, the level of PCr first decreased and then partially recovered, but the level of ATP continued to decrease and the levels of Pi and SP increased markedly. These findings suggest compartmentalization of creatine phosphokinase (CPK) systems and the possibility that a high concentration of ACh interferes with the transport of PCr between one CPK system near adenosinetriphosphatase and another system near mitochondria in acinar cells.