Role of Sympathetic Nerves in the Regulation of Salivary Secretion

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Abstract
Cholinergic para sympathetic stimulation of the parotid gland in the cat results in copious glandular secretion, and a small amt. of secretion is produced by stimulation of adrenergic sympathetic components. Copious secretion from the submandibular gland follows adrenergic sympathetic stimulation; and cholinergic parasympathetic stimulation also elicits an abundant secretion, but only after the adrenergic nerve components have been depressed. Occlusion of the blood supply to these glands during sympathetic stimulation always prevents or stops secretion. Parasympathetic secretion from the glands is not immediately affected by such occlusion. These results support the concept that the secretory activity resulting from sympathetic stimulation is due to vasomotor changes and confirm the conclusions of Kuntz and Richins (1946) that the secretory cells in both parotid and submandibular glands have a direct parasympathetic innervation but the sympathetic nerves are distributed predominantly, perhaps exclusively, to the blood vessels.