Adrenergic control of lacrimal secretion in rabbits.

Stimulation of the preganglionic trunk of the ipsilateral superior cervical sympathetic ganglion with square wave electrical pulses produced secretion from the main excretory duct of the rabbit lacrimal gland. The secretion was inhibited by propranolol (1 mg/kg) and metoprolol (10 mg/kg) but not by phenoxybenzamine (2 mg/kg) and atropine (25 micrograms/kg). The results indicate that the sympathetically induced secretion in the rabbit lacrimal gland occurs through an adrenergic mechanism. The adrenergic receptors in the lacrimal gland is most likely of beta 1-type.