Enzymatic activity of rat submandibular gland kallikrein released into blood.

Enzymatic activity of submandibular gland (SG) kallikrein released into saliva and blood was studied at rest and after autonomic nerve stimulation. Kallikrein was measured by an immunometric assay that allows measurement of immunoreactive kallikrein in complex with inhibitors as well as simultaneous determination of kallikrein enzymatic activity. Measurements using the chromogenic substrate S2266 gave identical results to the natural substrate kininogen. Endogenous SG kallikrein secretory rate was, at rest, 0.9 +/- 0.1 ng/min. Kallikrein secretion into blood in response to autonomic nerve stimulation paralleled that into saliva, and secretion was greatly enhanced by alpha-adrenergic stimulation. In plasma, kallikrein was bound to several inhibitors that completely or partially blocked the enzyme activity. In arterial and SG venous control plasma, 93 +/- 3 and 72 +/- 10% inhibition of kallikrein enzyme activity was observed, respectively. Sympathetic stimulation after administration of a beta-adrenergic blocker increased kallikrein enzyme activity 62 and 11 times in arterial and SG venous plasma, respectively, with a corresponding 78 +/- 8 and 70 +/- 8% inhibition of kallikrein enzyme activity. A fraction containing kallikrein resembling "free kallikrein" was always present in plasma.