The Electrolyte and Water Secretion Mechanism

The currently accepted salivary gland secretion model describes the process of fluid secretion as the coordinated action of water and ion channels and transporters. The secretion of electrolytes and water by salivary glands is thought to be activated by an agonist-induced increase in the intracellular free [Ca2+] and to be driven by transepithelial chloride movement. The Cl- transport is supported by upregulation of several ion transporters, K+ and Cl- channels, and the Na+/K+-ATPase. This review will focus on the details of the transport mechanisms as well as recent developments in confirming the molecular identities of the involved transporter and channel proteins.