EFFECT OF ELECTRICAL-STIMULATION OF AUTONOMIC NERVES ON LEVELS AND SYNTHESIS OF CYCLIC NUCLEOTIDES IN RAT SALIVARY-GLANDS - RELATIONSHIP TO ENHANCED GROWTH

  • 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 3  (2) , 107-118
Abstract
Electrical stimulation of either the parasympathetic or the sympathetic nerve supply to the parotid and submaxillary glands increases the intracellular level of cyclic[c]GMP and the rate of DNA synthesis and cell division while only sympathetic stimulation raises cAMP levels. The periods of electrical stimulation inducing hyperplasia also raise the cGMP concentration, but there is no similar correlation with changes in cAMP levels. The extent of hyperplasia induced by parasympathetic and sympathetic stimulation is not directly related to the size of the increase in cGMP concentration that these treatments produce. Changes in cAMP levels are reflected in altered in vitro adenylate cyclase activity. This activity is raised after 2 min sympathetic stimulation and markedly decreased with 30 min sympathetic or parasympathetic stimulation. Guanylate cyclase activity shows no such changes with nerve stimulation.