A novel peptide hormone isolated from salivary glands, submandibular gland peptide-T (SGP-T), protects against the enhanced hypotensive response to intravenously administered lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 3.5 mg/kg; Salmonella typhosa) in rats with their submandibular glands removed (sialadenectomy). In this study, we examined the effects of SGP-T on LPS-provoked perturbations of heart function. Sialadenectomy did not alter basal heart function, although the sialadenectomized rats exhibited more pronounced reductions in ventricular peak systolic pressure (VPSP), ventricular pressure at max dP/dt (Pmax dP/dt), and maximum ventricular negative dP/dt (-dP/dt) relative to unoperated controls following LPS challenge. These changes were primarily due to changes in afterload (blood pressure). However, in sialadenectomized rats LPS-induced changes in Pmax -dP/dt (ventricular pressure at maximum -dP/dt) did not correlate with changes in VPSP, which suggests that sialadenectomy may alter the systolic component of the heart beat. The peptide SGP-T, at doses of 1 and 3.5 microg/kg, corrected Pmax -dP/dt and all other endotoxin-induced changes in heart function. Since Pmax -dP/dt is a measure of relaxation during diastole, the submandibular glands appear to play a role in protecting the heart against the adverse effects of acute endotoxin administration on ventricular relaxation. These effects of the submandibular glands may be mediated by the release of the peptide SGP-T.