Journal of Dental Research, Vol 66, 537-540, Copyright © 1987 by International & American Associations for Dental Research Online Journals
Intracellular elemental concentrations in resting and secreting rat parotid glands
K. T. Izutsu, D. E. Johnson and M. Goddard
Electron probe x-ray micro-analysis was used to study the elemental
concentration changes that occur during pilocarpine-stimulated saliva
secretion. Quantitative x-ray micro-analysis of elemental concentrations in
intracellular compartments of rat parotid glands stimulated in vivo with
pilocarpine showed that Na concentration was significantly increased, while
K concentration was significantly reduced. The magnitude of these changes
was consistent with values obtained in other tissues with the x-ray
micro-analysis method, and in the same tissue with other experimental
methods. Comparisons with results from studies utilizing dispersed acini
suggest that acinar dispersion procedures may affect intracellular
elemental concentrations. Total electrolyte concentrations in cytoplasm and
secretory granules were estimated to increase on a dry-weight basis
following pilocarpine stimulation. The former change is consistent with the
notion of a transcellular route of salivary fluid flow, while the latter
change may be important in the exocytosis of secretory granules.
