Salivary Acetylcholinesterase Activity Is Increased in Parkinson’s Disease: A Potential Marker of Parasympathetic Dysfunction

Figure 1

The preganglionic parasympathetic cell bodies responsible for innervation of the submandibular and sublingual glands are located in the superior salivary nucleus and terminate in the submandibular ganglion, from which postganglionic fibres reach the glands. The preganglionic cell bodies which innervated the parotid gland are located in the inferior sal nucleus and terminate in the otic ganglion. Lewy body pathology has been detected in the submandibular gland, submandibular ganglion, and inferior salivary nucleus. (C-VII, facial nerve; CIX, glossopharyngeal nerve; ISN, inferior salivatory nucleus; OG, otic ganglion; PG, parotid gland; SG, submandibular ganglion; SLG, sublingual gland; SMG, submandibular gland; SSN, superior salivatory nucleus).