In order to investigate the secretion mechanism of denervated submandibular gland（SMG） and artificially regulate the secretion of transferred SMG,serial studies on the secretion function of normal and transferred SMG have been performed. The results showed that functional α 1A- and α 1B-adrenoceptors（AR） were expressed in human SMG, and might contribute to the regulation of saliva synthesis and secretion. Both β1- and β2-AR were expressed in rabbit SMG. β1-AR was the predominant subtype and might play an important role in regulating saliva and α-amylase secretion. Vanilloid receptor1（VR1） mRNA and protein were detected in rabbit SMG. Capsaicin could induce a significant increase in secretion of rabbit SMG via activitation of VR1. On the rabbit model of microvascular transfer of SMG, phenylephrine（10 -7 mol/L）was infused into SMG through the Wharton’s duct. The secretion of transferred SMG was significantly increased without significant changes of cardiovascular function. The effective mechanism of phenylephrine might involve the increased expression of α1-AR, translocation of AQP5 from cytoplasm to apical membrane, activation of signal molecules related to cell proliferation, and moderate the atrophy of the gland. These results provided a experimental basis for deeply understanding of secretion mechanism of normal and transferred SMG, and effective regulation of secretion of the transferred SMG.
