Increases in nerve growth factor immunoreactivity in the submandibular gland, but not in the parotid gland, of the rat following sympathetic denervation

The effect of sympathetic denervation on nerve growth factor (NGF) immunoreactivity in the submandibular and parotid glands of adult female rats using a two-site, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was investigated. Unilateral sympathetic denervation through the avulsion of the superior cervical ganglion resulted in elevated levels of total amounts (decreased from 40–20%) and concentrations (decreased from 45–32%) of NGF in the submandibular glands, but not in the parotid glands, on the operated side 7–28 days post-operatively. Sympathetic decentralisation had no effect. The present findings support the hypothesis that increased levels of NGF play an important part in the increased activity of the acetylcholine-synthesising enzyme, choline acetyltransferase, in the rat submandibular gland following sympathetic denervation.