Effect of sympathetic stimulation on salivary secretion in submandibular gland in the rabbit stimulated by pilocarpine.

The sympathetic stimulation under slow pilocarpine-induced flow conditions brought about a decrease in this flow rate that could be due to vasoconstriction, since such an effect was not observed after the administration of phentolamine (4 mg/kg i.v.). Contrariwise the injection of a beta-adrenergic blocking agent (propranolol 2-2.5 mg/kg i.v.) produced a decrease of the salivary flow rate that was even greater than in the control animals. These results suggest that the secretory effect in this gland and species is predominantly beta-adrenergic. The stated results are related to the changes observed in the blood outflow from the gland.