Enhancement of salivary secretion by chronic anethole trithione treatment

Effect on salivary secretion of a single dose and of chronic treatment with trithio-p-methoxyphenylpropene (anethole trithione; ANTT) was investigated in mice, rats and rabbits in relation to changes in function of the autonomic nervous system. Chronic treatment with ANTT enhanced salivary secretion induced by pilocarpine or electrical stimulation of the parasympathetic nerve, but had no effect on salivary secretion induced by isoproterenol or phenylephrine. A single dose of ANTT had no effect on salivary secretion. Chronic treatment with ANTT prevented the inhibition of parotid salivary secretion caused by atropine in rabbits. Choline acetyltransferase and acetylcholinesterase activities in rat submaxillary glands were not affected by chronic treatment with ANTT. These results suggest that chronic treatment with ANTT may enhance salivary secretion by stimulating the postjunctional secretory process involved in the parasympathetic nervous system.