Effects of electrical stimulation of autonomic nervous system on degranulation of von Ebner's gland acini.

In a series of studies to understand interactions between taste sensation and salivary gland function, we are pursuing experiments to determine the autonomic nervous system control of von Ebner's lingual salivary glands. Electrical stimulation of the glossopharyngeal nerve, which contains the parasympathetic nerve supply to von Ebner's glands, caused a reduction in secretory granules of the glands in the rat. This depletion of granules could be blocked by prior administration of the parasympathetic antagonist, atropine. In contrast, electrical stimulation of the sympathetic nerve supply was ineffective in causing granule depletion in von Ebner's gland, but produced almost total degranulation in the parotid gland of the same animals. It is concluded that parasympathetic nerves exert the principal control over von Ebner's gland, acinar degranulation in the rat; this is compared with autonomic control of other salivary glands that have a dual peripheral control by parasympathetic and sympathetic innervation.