Effects of thyroxine and dexamethasone on rat submandibular glands

Journal Article · Tue Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1989 · Journal of Dental Research; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1177/00220345890680080701· OSTI ID:6897057

Sagulin, G B; Roomans, G M ^[1]

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1. Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge (Sweden)

Glucocorticoids and thyroxine are known to have a marked effect on the flow rate and protein composition of rat parotid saliva in hormonally intact animals. In the present study, the effects of a one-week treatment of male rats with dexamethasone and thyroxine were studied by electron microscopy and x-ray micro-analysis, and by measurement of the flow rate and determination of the chemical composition of pilocarpine-induced submandibular saliva. Thyroxine had the most extensive effects on the submandibular gland. The acinar cells were enlarged and filled with mucus; the cellular calcium concentration was significantly increased. The flow rate of the submandibular saliva was significantly reduced compared with that in saline-injected control animals. Thyroxine caused an increase in the concentrations of protein, total calcium, and potassium in the saliva. Dexamethasone had no significant effects on gland ultrastructure or on the elemental composition of the acinar cells; flow rate was not affected, but the concentrations of protein, calcium, and potassium were significantly increased. The effects of dexamethasone and thyroxine on the flow rate and protein composition of pilocarpine-induced rat submandibular saliva differ from those reported earlier for rat parotid saliva after simultaneous stimulation with pilocarpine and isoproterenol.

• OSTI ID: 6897057
• Journal Information: Journal of Dental Research; (USA), Journal Name: Journal of Dental Research; (USA) Vol. 68:8; ISSN 0022-0345; ISSN JDREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550201* -- Biochemistry-- Tracer Techniques
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ADRENAL HORMONES
ALKALI METALS
ALKALINE EARTH METALS
AMINO ACIDS
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BODY
BODY FLUIDS
CALCIUM
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
CORTICOSTEROIDS
DEXAMETHASONE
ELECTRON MICROPROBE ANALYSIS
ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
ELEMENTS
FLOW RATE
GLANDS
GLUCOCORTICOIDS
HORMONES
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
KETONES
MAMMALS
MATERIALS
METALS
MICROANALYSIS
MICROSCOPY
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC IODINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PEPTIDE HORMONES
POTASSIUM
PREGNANES
PROTEINS
RATS
RODENTS
SALIVA
SALIVARY GLANDS
STEROIDS
THYROID HORMONES
THYROXINE
VERTEBRATES