Pharmacological inhibition of salivary glands: a possible therapy for sialosis and sialoadenitis. Effect of experimentally induced beta-receptor block on the rat parotid gland.

An increase of alpha-amylase concentration and specific amylase activity (correlated to protein content) was evident already after 3 days in the parotid glands of rats treated with 2 X 2 mg/day of propranolol hydrochloride. After separation of amylase into isoenzymes, only the specific isoamylase activities were enhanced. In contrast to treatment with a guanethidine derivative (guanoxane), these changes have persisted after 3 weeks. On the strength of these results, functional inhibition of the salivary glands (i.e. blockade of secretion by beta-sympatholytic agnets) is discussed as a therapeutical possibility for the management of sialosis and sialoadenitis.