Cholinergic stimulation of ouabain-sensitive respiration in rat submandibular gland.

Oxygen consumption of slices of rat submandibular gland was monitored with an oxygen electrode method. Carbachol stimulated an immediate increase in tissue respiration that was inhibitable by ouabain. The stimulation required the presence of calcium in the incubation medium and was blocked by atropine. The calcium ionophore A23187 also stimulated ouabain-sensitive oxygen consumption in the tissue slices. The results show that the mechanism using the extra energy during cholinergic stimulation is the sodium pump. Amiloride at a 1, 10, or 100 microM concentration had no effect on stimulation of ouabain-sensitive respiration by carbachol. Since amiloride, which is known to block the sodium reabsorption process in the ductal segment, has no effect on the stimulation, the increased sodium pump activity is probably located in the acinar region and is associated with the primary fluid secretion process.