Effect of adrenoceptor blockers on the acinar enlargement induced by Chagas' disease in the rat submandibular glands.

Chagas' disease induces acinar enlargement in the submandibular salivary gland of rats inoculated with the Y strain of Trypanosoma cruzi at the age of 27-28 days and killed 18 days after inoculation (acute phase). Propranolol, a beta-adrenoceptor blocker, prevents the acinar enlargement induced by T. cruzi infection. Phenoxybenzamine, an alpha-adrenoceptor blocker, enhances this enlargement. These results suggest that catecholamines are involved in the genesis of the acinar hypertrophy induced by Chagas' disease.