The actions of some putative neurotransmitters on the cockroach salivary gland

Abstract

1. Certain putative transmitters were applied to the innervated cockroach salivary gland and their effects on the resting potential and the neurally evoked secretory potential of the acinar cells were observed. 2. gamma-Aminobutyric acid, glutamate, glycine, aspartate and alanine had no significant effect on the resting potential. However, gamma-aminobutyric acid and glutamate reduced the neurally evoked secretory potential but only at concentrations above 10(−3) M3. Acetylcholine and carbachol appeared to act by modifying transmitter output from the salivary nerves. These substances failed to have any effect on the resting potential. 4. The biogenic amines, adrenaline, dopamine, noradrenaline, 5-hydroxy-tryptamine and octopamine, produced hyperpolarizing responses, graded according to concentration. 5. It is suggested that dopamine, the most potent of the biogenic amines tested, is the transmitter at this junction.