Secretion of peroxidase from acinar cells, true tissue kallikrein (rK1) from granular tubules and total protein have been assessed in sequential samples of rat submandibular saliva formed during intermittent periods of sympathetic stimulation in bursts of 50 Hz 1 s every 10 s at 5 V, for 1 or 2 min each with 2 min intervals between periods. This protocol was repeated twice after 1 h rest pauses. The salivary flow remained greater throughout than when using ongoing burst stimulation. Protein secretion was considerable in the first 2 samples (1 min followed by 2 min) reaching the remarkable concentration of 285 +/- 14.4 mg/ml, then it gradually decreased with little recovery after 1 h pauses. rK1 outputs followed a similar pattern. Peroxidase, however, showed no greater output in initial samples and continued steadily in similar amounts throughout. When intermittent stimulations were used for 1 sequence only (total stimulation time = 9 min) the glands showed 84 +/- 2.6% depletion of rK1 compared to the control glands. A correspondingly large depletion of granules occurred from the granular tubules on the stimulated side, which was greater than with ongoing burst stimulation for 1 h (Garrett et al., 1991). Thus, secretion of rK1 from the granules in granular tubules occurs most efficiently with short sharp bursts of high frequency sympathetic stimulation but soon diminishes. In contrast, peroxidase secretion from acinar cells continues steadily and more modestly for long periods of time undiminished.