An analysis of parotid salivary gland function with desipramine and age infemale NIA Fischer 344 rats

Cyclic antidepressants are still a dominating group of psychotherapeutic dr ugs used in the treatment of depression. Dry mouth is one of their major si de effects. In this study we analyzed the effects of the long-term administ ration of the tricyclic antidepressant desipramine and the reversibility of this treatment following a 15-day washout period on different parameters i n parotid gland function in aging rats. We hypothesized that glandular func tion would be decreased, and recovery delayed with age. Drug treatment affe cted body weight, glandular weight, DNA synthesis, and the concentration of soluble and structural membrane proteins. Surprisingly, parotid flow rate was increased with desipramine in all ages. While the concentration of secr eted proteins was generally decreased with treatment, total proteins secret ed were quite stable, SDS/PAGE analysis revealed prominent changes with des ipramine. Amylase activity was depressed with treatment, but only low resid ual cellular enzyme activity was detected in the glandular supernatant. The refore, a secretory impairment with desipramine was excluded. The content o f the antimicrobial proteins peroxidase and lysozyme was increased with des ipramine in all age groups. Most parameters measured revealed delayed recov ery with age. These data indicate that the tricyclic antidepressant desipra mine has profound effects on parotid gland function, accented with age. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.