The role of nitric oxide in the control of protein secretion in the submandibular gland of the cat

Submandibular salivary responses to stimulation of the parasympathetic chorda lingual innervation have been investigated in anaesthetized cats in the presence and absence of N omega-arginine-L-methyl ester (L-NAME) to block the synthesis of nitric oxide. Stimulation either at 2 Hz continuously or at 20 Hz for 1 s at 10 s intervals produced an abrupt fall in submandibular vascular resistance and initiated a flow of submandibular saliva. Neither of these responses differed significantly from the other but the output of protein was significantly potentiated (P < 0.05) when the high-frequency intermittent pattern of stimulation was employed. This potentiation of protein output was abolished in the presence of L-NAME, when the output of protein from the gland was closely similar, whichever pattern of stimulation was employed. Additional administration of atropine completely blocked all submandibular responses to parasympathetic stimulation showing that, in the presence of L-NAME, each response was due to release of acetylcholine acting on muscarinic receptors. The intermittent pattern of chorda lingual nerve stimulation produced a significant rise in the output of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) from the gland (P < 0.01) and this response was significantly reduced following administration of L-NAME (P < 0.05). The results are consistent with the contention that stimulation of the parasympathetic innervation in bursts, which increases the amount of VIP released from the postganglionic nerve terminals, enhances the output of protein in submandibular saliva in the cat. The mechanism involves nitric oxide (NO), which may act, at least in part, presynaptically by modulating VIP release.