[Isoprenaline, propranolol and in vivo phosphorus metabolism of the rat salivary gland].

Chronic treatment with isoprenaline causes hypersecretion and a marked enlargement of submaxillary glands. Isoprenaline, given to normal rats or treated animals with hypertrophied salivary glands, increases the incorporation of 32P in tissue inorganic and organic phosphates and phospholipids. Propranolol given alone is inactive on phosphorus metabolism, but inhibits the effect of isoprenaline. The phospholipid effect is probably related to the increase of membranes in hypertrophied acinar cells; a correlation with the hypersecretion induced by isoprenaline needs further study. The results show that in experimental sialadenosis and hypersialorrhea induced by isoprenaline in the whole rat stimulation of glandular beta-adrenoreceptors and phosphorus metabolism are involved.