2019 Volume 56 Issue 3 Pages 155-161
During the 19th century, the autonomic control of salivary glands attracted great attention of the famous physiologists. The parasympathetic fibers to induce salivary secretion was discovered by Ludwig (1850), who observed copious salivary flow from the submaxillary gland of the dog by stimulation of the lingual nerve. Bernard (1858) traced these fibers in the chorda tympani, and considered that the secretory fibers were identical to the vasodilator fibers. Oppositely, Heidenhain (1872) proved that the seretory fibers and the vasodilator fibers were pharmacologically different. Complementary secretory fibers of the sympathetic origin were found by Heidenhain (1878) and Langley (1878); the parasympathetic and sympathetic fibers synergistic effects on salivary glands. The sympathetic fibers to evoke constriction of myo-epithelial cells of salivary ducts were demonstrated by Eckhard (1969), a pipil of Ludwig. Meanwhile, paradoxical salivary secretion from the submaxillary gland after the section of the chorda tympani, or paralytic secretion, was described by Bernard (1862), Heidenhain (1868), and Langley (1885). Emmelin et al. (1950) clarified that paralytic secretion was caused by denervation supersensitivity, and that the parasympathetic denervation of salivary glands, as well as the sympathetic denervation, produced non-specific supersensitivity to both adrenaline and pilocarpine. Considering the complex nature of the autonomic control of salivary glands, the physiology of sweat glands, which are another secretory organ, seems to be oversimplified. Furthermore, the mechanism of denervation supersensitivity should be reconsidered.
