THE EFFECT OF PRESSURE WITHIN THE SUBMANDIBULAR GLAND ON THE GLANDULAR BLOOD CIRCULATION

Abstract

In the present experiment, the physiologic role of the baro-receptive information from the submandibular gland was studied in the dog. Backpressure was applied to the unilateral submandibular duct of the anesthetized dog. The pressure-curve and venous out-flow from the submandibular gland and the electro-salivogram of the gland were recorded simultaneously.
Venous out-flow from the gland was distinctly increased by a back-pressure application of 40-60mmHg to the duct of the gland. However, the electrosalivogram was not distinctly affected by this procedure. This blood-flow increasing response was elicited only in the ipsilateral gland and not in the contralateral side. The blood-flow increasing response was completely abolished by dissection of the ipsilateral chorda tympanic nerve, but not by dissection of the cervical sympathetic nerve to the gland.
The present results imply that baro-receptors in the submandibular gland of the dog play some important physiologic role in regulating the blood supply of the gland, and also suggest that the response has a possibility to promote the recovery process of the activated cells.