Parotid gland function in streptozotocin-diabetic rats

The in vivo response of parotid glands to adrenergic, cholinergic, and peptidergic agonists was studied in control, streptozotocin- (one month's duration), and insulin-treated (three hr) diabetic rats. Neither diabetes nor insulin had an effect on the response to physalaemin. In contrast, physalaemin threshold-dose was lower and maximal response greater in control rats placed on a bulk diet. As previously described, diabetes resulted in nonparallel changes in parotid protein composition, including a production in amylase and an increase in peroxidase concentrations (mg/mg protein). In contrast to the results observed with physalaemin, response to methacholine was significantly reduced in diabetic animals, and could be restored to control levels by insulin. Placement of animals on a bulk-diet, however, had no effect on threshold response to methacholine. Finally, response threshold for epinephrine was unaffected by diabetes, insulin, or bulk diet. Thus, insulin appears, directly and specifically, to alter the response of parotid acinar cells to cholinergic stimulation.