SALIVARY GLAND FUNCTION IN THE RAT

III. PROTEASE AND ARGINASE ACTIVITY OF SUBMAXILLARY GLANDS AND WHOLE SALIVA

¹ Indiana University, School of Dentistry, Indianapolis, Ind.

A series of studies has been carried out in order to investigate protease and arginase activity of the submaxillary gland and whole saliva. The data indicate that:

1. The administration of thyroxine and of propylthiouracil or thyroidectomizing doses of I¹³¹ does not affect the protease or arginase activity of pilocarpine-stimulated saliva.

2. The administration of thyroxine or of desiccated thyroid results in an increase in protease activity and a decrease in arginase activity of submaxillary gland extracts. Hypophysectomy or the administration of propylthiouracil increases arginase activity of submaxillary gland extracts.

3. The protease activity per gram of submaxillary gland tissue in pilocarpine-stimulated animals does not change over an 8-hour period although there is a decrease in the wet weight of the gland. The average diameter of the submaxillary granular tubules, presumably the site of the protease, does not change following pilocarpine stimulation.