Effects of sympathectomy on the in vitro α and β-responses of the parotid gland

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Abstract
Amylase and K+ release were measured in slices obtained from innervated and sympathetically denervated rat parotid glands. Amylase release induced by noradrenaline was found to be increased after chronic denervation. The postjunctional component of supersensitivity to noradrenaline was evidenced by an increase in the maximal response to this agonist. The maximal response of denervated glands was blocked by propranolol 10−5 M. On the other hand, chronic denervation did not modify the α-adrenoceptor-mediated response, K+ release, either in the presence or in the absence of ouabain. It is concluded that, after sympathetic denervation, postjunctional supersensitivity develops for the β-adrenoceptor-mediated but not for the α-adrenoceptors-mediated effects of noradrenaline.