The control of enzyme secretion from fly salivary glands.

1. Stimulation of fluid secretion from fly salivary glands by 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) is known to involve calcium and cyclic AMP. Isolated salivary glands were used to investigate the role of these second messengers in the control of enzyme (sucrase) secretion.2. The protein component of secretion from isolated glands treated with 5-HT appears to be identical to that of saliva secreted by flies during feeding.3. Stimulation of fluid secretion by 5-HT follows a definite dose-response curve, but there is no consistent relationship between the rate of enzyme secretion and the stimulating concentration of 5-HT.4. Exogenous cyclic AMP causes secretion of enzymes as well as of fluid, thus mimicking the action of 5-HT. The phosphodiesterase inhibitor theophylline enhances the rate of 5-HT-stimulated enzyme secretion.5. Removal of calcium from the bathing medium enhances enzyme secretion in response to 5 or 10 nM-5-HT but has no effect on enzyme secretion stimulated by 100 nM-5-HT or by cyclic AMP.6. Addition of 0.1 mM-lanthanum to medium containing 2 mM-calcium mimics the effect of calcium-free solution on 5-HT-stimulated enzyme secretion.7. The ionophore A 23187 causes secretion of both fluid and enzyme. The secretory rate is initially high but soon declines and ceases after about 40 min.8. Enzyme secretion in response to 5-HT or to cyclic AMP is progressively inhibited as the concentration of potassium is increased from 10 to 80 mM. Secretion in response to A 23187 is initially inhibited by 80 mM-potassium but then partially recovers.9. The rate of enzyme secretion appears to be affected by the intracellular concentrations of both calcium and cyclic AMP. It is possible that the rate of enzyme secretion increases as the intracellular calcium concentration rises, until the optimal calcium concentration is reached when further increase in the level of calcium progressively inhibits secretion. The optimal calcium concentration for enzyme secretion is lower than that for fluid secretion, and 5-HT normally causes maximal fluid secretion and submaximal enzyme secretion.