Effects of isoprenaline and pilocarpine on salivary glands as assessed by gravimetric and image analysis techniques.

Pigs were given 6 daily injections of isoprenaline or pilocarpine. At necropsy the parotid, submaxillary and sublingual salivary glands were removed and weighed. Histological sections were prepared from several regions of each gland and the cross-sectional area of their acini was measured in treated and control animals by means of a Quantimet Image Analysis System. Both isoprenaline and pilocarpine produced a significant increase in the weight of the parotid and submaxillary glands, which was accompanied by an increase in acinar area. There was no change in the weight of the sublingual gland with either drug, but isoprenaline did induce an increase in the area of sublingual acini. A comparison is made of the changes in weight and structure of the salivary glands as shown by these methods.