Effect of body temperature on salivary reflexes in rats

Salivary secretion was evoked reflexly by taste or noxious stimulation at different body temperatures in urethane anesthetized rats. Magnitude of salivary secretion induced either by a taste stimulus or by a pinch was facilitated by increasing rectal temperature in a range of 39-40.3 degrees C. Above a threshold rectal temperature of 40.4 degrees C, copious saliva was continuously secreted without external stimulation.