Lateral nasal gland secretion in the anesthetized ferret

In anesthetized ferrets, we cannulated the duct of the lateral nasal gland for direct collection of glandular liquid. Administration of methacholine and substance P into the internal carotid artery via a retrograde cannulation of the lingual artery produced a dose-dependent increase in glandular output. The dose-response curve to methacholine was significantly shifted to the right by atropine. The secretory response to substance P was only partially inhibited by atropine at the dose that completely blocked secretion produced by methacholine (51 nmol/kg), suggesting the involvement of noncholinergic as well as cholinergic pathways. Phosphoramidon, an inhibitor of neutral endopeptidase, significantly potentiated the action of substance P. The analyses of electrolyte contents in glandular secretion revealed the presence of Na+, K+, and Cl-. The sum of the electrolyte concentrations indicated that the secretion was close to isotonic. The anesthetized ferret is a useful in vivo model for the study of physiology and pathophysiology of nasal secretion.