Intracellular elemental concentrations in resting and secreting rat parotid glands

Electron probe x-ray micro-analysis was used to study the elemental concentration changes that occur during pilocarpine-stimulated saliva secretion. Quantitative x-ray micro-analysis of elemental concentrations in intracellular compartments of rat parotid glands stimulated in vivo with pilocarpine showed that Na concentration was significantly increased, while K concentration was significantly reduced. The magnitude of these changes was consistent with values obtained in other tissues with the x-ray micro-analysis method, and in the same tissue with other experimental methods. Comparisons with results from studies utilizing dispersed acini suggest that acinar dispersion procedures may affect intracellular elemental concentrations. Total electrolyte concentrations in cytoplasm and secretory granules were estimated to increase on a dry-weight basis following pilocarpine stimulation. The former change is consistent with the notion of a transcellular route of salivary fluid flow, while the latter change may be important in the exocytosis of secretory granules.