Table 1.
Melatonin‐labelled acinar secretory granules of the rat parotid gland and the exocytotic response to isoprenaline (5 mg kg−1, i.v.). Number of granule profiles of control and stimulated glands expressed per 100 μm2 of acinar cell area. Values are means ± SEM
| Total number of granule profiles | Total number of labelled granule profiles | Matrix with or without membrane‐ labelled granule profiles | Only matrix‐labelled granule profiles | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Control glands (n = 7) | 40.8 ± 6.2 | 14.3 ± 3.2 (35%)† | 11.0 ± 2.4 (27%)† | 9.1 ± 1.8 (22%)† |
| Stimulated glands (n = 6) | 10.6 ± 2.2 (26%)*** |
3.5 ± 1.5 (33%)†
(24%)** |
2.8 ± 1.4 (26%)†
(25%)** |
2.2 ± 1.0 (21%)†
(24%)** |
†When compared with the total number of granules within each group of glands.
** P < 0.01 and ***P < 0.001 when compared with corresponding figures for control glands.