Protein secretion from parotid glands of vitamin D deficient and glucocorticoid-treated rats.

The rate of isoproterenol stimulated secretion of protein from parotid glands of vitamin D deficient rats and rats treated with methylprednisolone was increased compared to the secretory response of tissue from control rats. It is suggested that the increased secretory response is secondary to a decreased capacity of mitochondria from the tissue of these animals to take up and store Ca2+; i.e. the mitochondria are less efficient buffers of cytoplasmic Ca2+. Under these conditions any process, such as protein secretion, which requires an increased cytoplasmic Ca2+ concentration will operate more effectively.