Journal of Dental Research, Vol 77, 1817-1822, Copyright © 1998 by International & American Associations for Dental Research Online Journals
Salivary secretions: narcolepsy and central nervous system stimulants
H. Nordgarden, M. Lamkin, F. G. Oppenheim, K. Storhaug and J. L. Jensen
TAKO-centre, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Oslo, Norway.
In an ongoing attempt to develop a model to study the influence of various
diseases and drugs on saliva, we studied persons with narcolepsy treated
with central nervous system stimulants. The aim was to study the secretion
of salivary proteins in narcolepsy in the presence and absence of central
nervous system stimulants. For this purpose, two proteins synthesized in
acinar cells, acidic proline-rich proteins (PRPs) and statherin, were
selected. Persons with narcolepsy treated with central nervous system
stimulants only were included, n = 12, ages 14 to 68, seven females.
Citric-acid-stimulated parotid and submandibular/sublingual saliva samples
were collected from these persons during medication, after a drug-free
period of one week, at least two weeks after the drug had been
re-introduced, and from a matched healthy control group. PRP and statherin
concentrations were determined by means of reversed-phase and anion
exchange chromatography, respectively. Both concentration and output of
statherins and PRPs were increased in persons with narcolepsy receiving
central nervous system stimulants compared with healthy control
individuals. When the drug was withdrawn, salivary flow rates were not
influenced. In contrast, withdrawal of the drug led to a significantly
decreased secretion of PRPs and statherin. The reduced protein secretion
may reflect decreased adrenergic activation in narcolepsy, to be reversed
by treatment with central nervous system stimulants. It can be concluded
that measurements of both salivary fluid and salivary proteins may be
necessary for an overall evaluation of the effects of a given drug or
disease on salivary secretion.
