Adrenergic influences on the permeability of rabbit submandibular salivary glands to blood-borne horseradish peroxidase.

Horseradish peroxidase (HRP) administered close-arterially, has been found to enter rabbit submandibular saliva elicited by parasympathetic nerve stimulation. Adrenalin, superimposed on parasympathetic nerve stimulation, increased the passage of HRP into the saliva. Use of alpha- and beta-adrenoceptor agonists, either separately or together, and use of alpha- or beta-adrenoceptor antagonists together with adrenalin indicate that both alpha- and beta-receptor stimulation is necessary for this increase in glandular permeability to occur. Histochemical assessment showed that HRP had permeated the interstitial spaces of the gland and entered the spaces between adjacent parenchymal cells. However, in unstimulated glands it had only reached the lumina of striated ducts, but after adrenalin administration, peroxidase was also observed within acinar lumina. This work indicates that the predominant pathway taken by the HRP was via intercellular spaces and it is suggested that the permeability between junctional complexes of parenchymal cells is capable of being modified in vivo.