The noradrenergic innervation of the excretory ducts of the parotid, mandibular and sublingual glands in the rat.

The noradrenergic innervation of the excretory ducts of the parotid, mandibular and sublingual salivary glands in the rat has been examined using fluorescence histochemistry. None of the ducts were found to be innervated directly but, in the mandibular duct, innervated blood vessels are in close proximity to the epithelial cells of the duct and it is suggested that noradrenaline may diffuse from the vascular nerve endings to receptors on the epithelial cells.