Blood flow changes in the submaxillary gland of the rat on parasympathetic and sympathetic nerve stimulation.

Blood flow and secretion from the submaxillary gland of the rat was recorded. Stimulation of the chordalingual nerve evoked vasodilatation which was little, it at all, decreased after administration of atropine. The secretion evoked on parasympathetic nerve stimulation was greatly reduced but not totally abolished by parasympatholytic agents. Stimulation of the cervical sympathetic trunk evoked secretion, which was mediated both via alpha and beta-adrenoceptors and vasoconstriction which was abolished by dihydroergotamine, and thus seemed to be mediated via alpha-adrenergic receptors. After alpha-adrenoceptor blockade vasodilatation was seen on sympathetic nerve stimulation. This was abolished by the beta-adrenoceptor blocking agent propranolol.