Effects of 4,4'-diisothiocyano-2,2'-stilbene disulphonic acid and amiloride on salivary secretion by isolated, perfused rat submandibular glands.

Isolated submandibular glands of adult rats were perfused through the arterial system with oxygenated, HCO3-containing or HCO3-free physiological salt solutions. Secretion of saliva was then induced with acetylcholine (10(-6) M) in the absence or presence of the ion-transport inhibitors 4,4'-diisothiocyano-2,2'-stilbene disulphonic acid (DIDS), furosemide or amiloride. In HCO3-containing perfusates, 10(-4) M DIDS enhanced the initial secretory response (maximum rate of flow increased 18 per cent), but reduced the overall volume of saliva secreted in a 60-min period by 47 per cent. Furosemide (10(-3) M) alone reduced the volume of saliva by 73 per cent and, in combination with 10(-4) M DIDS, by 82 per cent. Amiloride (10(-3) M) caused a 68 per cent reduction in salivary volumes. Replacement of perfusate HCO3 with HEPES did not affect acetylcholine-induced secretion but enhanced the effects of the transport inhibitors, so that total volume of secretion was reduced 94 per cent by furosemide, 55 per cent by DIDS and 80 per cent by amiloride. In HCO3-containing perfusates, DIDS caused a 30-50 per cent increase in salivary Na+ and residual anion (Na + K - Cl) concentrations but amiloride induced a marked increase in salivary Na+ and Cl- concentrations and a decrease in salivary K+ concentrations. Furosemide caused a marked decrease in salivary Cl- concentrations and a marked increase in residual anions. These effects were similar but of smaller magnitude in HCO3-free, HEPES-containing perfusates.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)