Von Ebner's glands (vEG) are minor salivary glands associated with circumvallate and foliate papilla. The secretions of vEG consist of microenvironment of the taste buds in the circumvallate and foliate papillae, and thus saliva from vEG plays a role in the perception of taste. The Ca²+ signaling system in rat vEG acinar cell was examined using the Ca²+-sensitive fluorescent indicator Fura-2. Agonist-induced increase in intracellular Ca²+([Ca²+]i) was stimulated by carbachol (CCh) and substance P (SP), but not by norepinephrine (NE), and recovered to control levels by their receptor antagonists dose-dependently. The effects were also observed in Ca²+-free medium, suggesting mobilization from intracellular Ca²+ store. These results in the vEG acinar cell indicate that 1) [Ca²+]i is at least regulated by muscarinic and neurokininergic (NK1) receptors; 2) the increases in [Ca²+]i activated by CCh and SP are mainly mediated by discharge of cytosolic calcium pool.

• Kyung-Nyun Kim(Department of Physiology and Neuroscience, College of Dentistry and Research Institute of Oral Sciences, Kangnung National University) Corresponding author
• Ki-Myung Chung(Department of Physiology and Neuroscience, College of Dentistry and Research Institute of Oral Sciences, Kangnung National University)
• Sang-Hee Kim(Department of Physiology and Neuroscience, College of Dentistry)
• Young-Kyung Cho(Department of Physiology and Neuroscience, College of Dentistry and Research Institute of Oral Sciences, Kangnung National University)
• Stephen D. Roper(Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Medical School, University of Miami)