Secretagogue-mediated discharge of nerve growth factor from granular tubules of male mouse submandibular glands: An immunocytochemical study

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Abstract
Submandibular glands of male mice were stained for nerve growth factor by light microscopic immunocytochemistry. Nerve growth factor (NGF) was present in the granules of granular tubule cells, with the immunoreactive material often concentrated at the periphery of granules. Administration of the α-adrenergic agent, phenylephrine, to animals resulted in a marked depletion of NGF-containing granules from granular tubules. Some release also occurred following administration of the β-adrenergic agent, isoproterenol. Cholinergic stimulation (pilocarpine) did not result in appreciable loss of immunoreactive granules from these cells. In vitro results were not as clear cut, immunocytochemically, as those obtained with intact animals. It is concluded that discharge of NGF from male mouse submandibular glands is mediated predominantly by α-adrenergic activation, and that this phenomenon is readily demonstrated in the intact animal.