Cystic fibrosis: potential management through manipulation of the secretory process in affected exocrine glands.

Ten years ago, we demonstrated that chronic administration of isoproterenol to rats 
results is structural and functional changes of their salivary glands similar 
to those seen in exocrine glands of patients with cystic fibrosis. 
Recently, we began to study the cellular pathophysiology of these glands 
and managed to achieve pharmacological control of this abnormality. We demonstrated 
that administration of a beta-adrenergic antagonist in these animals resulted in 
the correction of the electrolyte abnormality which is very similar to 
that seen in the sweat glands of patients with cystic fibrosis. 
These two examples of manipulation of the secretory processes in exocrine 
glands of experimental animals demonstrate the feasibility of this approach in 
the therapy of patients with cystic fibrosis. 