Sympathetic decentralization abolishes increased secretion of immunoglobulin A evoked by parasympathetic stimulation of rat submandibular glands.

Salivary secretion of immunoglobulin A (IgA) in response to electrical stimulation of the parasympathetic nerve supply was assessed bilaterally in the submandibular glands of anaesthetized rats 1 week following unilateral pre-ganglionic sympathectomy (decentralization). Nerve-mediated stimulation on the non-denervated side increased IgA secretion several fold above an unstimulated rate of secretion whereas sympathetic decentralization reduced the parasympathetically stimulated secretion of IgA without affecting the basal rate. Glandular levels of IgA were increased following decentralization compared to the control glands. Salivary levels of free secretory component (FSC), the cleaved polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (plgR), were increased by parasympathetic stimulation and reduced by sympathectomy, though not as much as IgA. The decreased secretion of FSC suggests a reduced production of plgR and may account in part, for reduced IgA secretion following long-term removal of sympathetic nerve impulses.