SALT HOMEOSTASIS BY THE MUZZLE GLAND - EFFECT OF SALT LOADING IN MALE BUFFALO

Intraruminal administration of NaCl in male buffalo caused an increased excretion of extra Na+ through both the muzzle secretion as well as urine as revealed by rise in their Na/K ratios. Na/K ratio in muzzle secretion reflected Na status of animals with almost same accuracy as urine. Muzzle gland, however, behaved differently when NaCl was infused intravenously. Instead of excreting the extra-infused sodium, the Na+ concentration in the muzzle secretion declined. We postulate the secretion of a local humoral factor (in the muzzle gland) which somehow inhibits excretion of Na+.