Substance P: indirect and direct effects on parotid acinar cell membrane potential

Direct effects of exogenously applied substance P on salivary acinar cells have been previously reported. This electro-physiological study confirms these direct effects in rat but not mouse parotid gland. We demonstrate that in the absence of autonomic blockade the peptide evokes marked responses which are blocked by atropine (10(-6) M). These effects cannot be attributed to direct activation of acinar cells and are presumably due to release of acetylcholine from parasympathetic nerve endings. We consider that substance P, in addition to direct effects, could act to modulate neuronal activity in salivary glands; a role already assigned to the peptide in the central nervous system.