Mechanisms of fluid and ion secretion by the parotid gland of the kangaroo, Macropus rufus, assessed by administration of transport-inhibiting drugs.

Possible mechanisms of primary fluid formation by macropodine parotid glands were investigated in anaesthetized red kangaroos using ion transport inhibitors. Carotid plasma amiloride concentrations of 0.05-0.5 mmol.l-1 progressively reduced a stable acetylcholine-evoked half-maximal flow rate of 2.0 +/- 0.04 to 0.22 +/- 0.024 ml.min-1 (mean +/- SEM). Concurrently, saliva bicarbonate concentration and secretion fell (135 +/- 1.6 to 67 +/- 1.7 mmol.l-1 and 272 +/- 7.6 to 15 +/- 2.6 mumol.min-1, respectively); [phosphate], [chloride] and [sodium] rose and [potassium] and osmolality were unaltered. High-rate cholinergic stimulation did not increase saliva flow beyond 11 +/- 1.0% of that for equivalent pre-amiloride stimulation. Equipotent levels of amiloride and methazolamide given concurrently were no more effective at blocking flow and bicarbonate secretion than when given separately. Furosemide (up to 2 mmol.l-1), bumetanide (up to 0.2 mmol.l-1) and ethacrynate (1 mmol.l-1) in carotid plasma had no effect on salivary flow or ion concentrations. During methazolamide blockade, furosemide did not curtail the concurrent increase in salivary [chloride]. Chlorothiazide at 0.25-1.0 mmol.l-1 caused progressive depression of saliva flow and [bicarbonate], and elevation of [chloride]. 4-acetamido-4'-isothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'disulphonic acid at 0.1 mmol.l-1 was without effect, whereas at 0.5 mmol.l-1 it stimulated fluid secretion and increased saliva [protein], [sodium], [potassium], [bicarbonate] and osmolality. Concurrently, mean arterial blood pressure and pulse pressure fell and heart rate, haematocrit and carotid artery plasma flow rose. These responses were absent if saliva flow was kept constant by reduction in cholinergic stimulation during 4-acetamido-4-isothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'disulphonic acid administration. It is concluded that secretion of primary fluid by the kangaroo parotid is initiated mainly (> 90%) by secretion of bicarbonate which is formed in the endpiece cells from CO2 delivered by the circulation. No evidence was found for initiation of fluid secretion by chloride transport involving basolateral Na(+)-K(+)-2Cl- symports, Na(+)-Cl- symports or Cl-/HCO3- antiports.