Chronic anethole trithione treatment enhances the salivary secretion and increases the muscarinic acetylcholine receptors in the rat submaxillary gland.

Chronic treatment with trithio-p-methoxyphenylpropene (anethole trithione; ANTT) increased the salivary secretion from the rat submaxillary gland induced by electrical stimulation of the parasympathetic nerve and by injection of pilocarpine. In parallel with the enhancement of the salivary secretion, the number of the muscarinic acetylcholine receptors was significantly increased. The increased number of receptors may be involved in the enhancement of the salivary secretion by ANTT treatment.