Comparison of adenylate cyclase activity and in vitro secretion in the parotid and sublingual glands of the mouse.

1. Adenylate cyclase (EC 4.6.1.1) activity has been determined in the parotid and sublingual glands of the mouse. Optimal activity of the enzyme was obtained at a Mg2+-concentration of 8 mM at pH 8.2, using AMP-PNP as the substrate. 2. Cyclic AMP degradation during the adenylate cyclase assay was relatively high in both the homogenate and the 40,000 g pellet-fraction of the glands. Theophylline was effective in inhibiting this degradation only in the parotid hemogenate, whereas isobutylmethylxanthine inhibited the cyclic AMP degradation in both salivary glands. Using the latter phosphodiesterase inhibitor, we observed a higher adenylate cyclase activity in the sublingual glands than in the parotid glands. 3. Various receptor-selective sympathetic and parasympathetic agonists and antagonists have been tested for their capacity to influence the adenylate cyclase activity and the glycoprotein secretion in the parotid and sublingual glands of the mouse, in vitro. (a) The parotid glycoprotein secretion was increased by beta-adrenergic agonists, which stimulate adenylate cyclase, and by cholinergic muscarinic drugs, which do not activate this enzyme. The adrenergic alpha-agonist phenylephrine appeared to be involved neither in the glycoprotein secretion nor in the direct regulation of the adenylate cyclase activity. (b) The sublingual protein and mucin secretion was increased by cholinergic muscarinic agents. The over-all protein secretion was stimulated also by phenylephrine, but this effect could be blocked by propranolol. The adenylate cyclase activity in membrane preparations was not stimulated by these secretogogues.