Real-time monitoring of Ca2+ responses in rat submandibular glands and salivary secretions in living animals.

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To investigate the relationships between Ca2+ responses and salivary secretion in living animals, we measured Ca2+ responses in the rat submandibular gland (SMG) and salivary secretion from the SMG in real-time. First, we measured sialogogue-induced Ca2+ responses and salivary secretions. Administration of various agonist induced increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) throughout the Ca2+ sensor-expressed SMG. In addition, acetylcholine frequently shows Ca2+ oscillations in whole gland. We found that there is the difference among the agonist-induced spatio-temporal changes in [Ca2+]i in living animals. When salivary secretions were measured with Ca2+ responses using the micro pressure sensor, secretions occurred with a delay from the increase in the [Ca2+]i. The expression of Stim1, which is essential for the activation of Ca2+ entry, increased agonist-induced Ca2+ responses in SMG cells, therefore it may be a suitable gene therapy strategy for dry mouth in the future.