Physiological mechanisms of nicotinic receptors in nerve terminals terminated the salivary glands

吸烟虽能诱导唾液分泌，但其诱导机制尚不清楚。本研究利用细胞内Ca^<2+>显像研究了尼古丁对大鼠腮腺细胞的影响。尼古丁增加了唾液细胞内Ca^<2+>浓度，这种反应被药物引起的神经突触阻塞所阻断。因此，可能是唾液腺末端神经末梢的烟碱受体介导了唾液分泌。

Although cigarette smoking induces salivary secretion, it is unclear the induction mechanism. In the present study, we investigated effects of nicotine on rat parotid gland cells using intracellular Ca^<2+> imaging. Nicotine increased intracellular Ca^<2+> concentration in salivary cells, and the response was blocked by drug-induced nerve synaptic blockage. Therefore, it is possible that nicotinic receptors in nerve terminals terminated the salivary gland mediate salivary secretion.