Immunohistochemical study on the excretion of a drug (methamphetamine) by salivary glands.

We have succeeded in the immunohistochemical demonstration of methamphetamine; and in the present study, we used this technique to determine the topographic distribution of exogenously administered methamphetamine in mouse major salivary glands. Positive reactions for methamphetamine were localized in the striated duct portion of the major salivary glands and granular duct in the submandibular glands. Time course of the decrease in immunohistochemical reactivity of the ducts was very similar to that for reported methamphetamine levels in plasma or saliva. These results show that through the striated ducts of the major salivary glands and the granular ducts of the submandibular glands, MA is excreted into saliva; however, the mechanism by which MA is excreted into saliva is unknown.