Journal of Dental Research, Vol 80, 1584-1587, Copyright © 2001 by International & American Associations for Dental Research Online Journals
The effects of duration and intensity of stimulation on total protein and mucin concentrations in resting and stimulated whole saliva
S. A. Rayment, B. Liu, R. V. Soares, G. D. Offner, F. G. Oppenheim and R. F. Troxler
Department of Periodontology and Oral Biology, Goldman School of Dental Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston University Medical Center, MA 02118, USA.
The present investigation has characterized the influence of the duration
and intensity of stimulation on the secretion pattern of total protein and
salivary mucins MG1 and MG2 in whole saliva. Resting and stimulated whole
saliva was collected from six healthy subjects on 2 consecutive days. Whole
saliva was collected for 2 five-minute intervals under resting conditions
followed by collection under masticatory stimulation induced by the chewing
of parafilm (1 g) at 10 or 60 strokes/min for 15 min. Flow rates were
different under the 2 levels of stimulation. The concentration of total
protein was different in resting and stimulated whole saliva but was not
affected by the duration or intensity of stimulation. Analysis of mucin
concentrations determined by capture ELISAs revealed that the pattern of
MG1 secretion was similar to that of total protein. The pattern of MG2
secretion was unique in that no differences were observed in the
concentration of this mucin under resting and stimulated conditions. This
study shows that the pattern of protein secretion in whole saliva does not
reflect the combined pattern observed for protein secretion in parotid and
submandibular/sublingual glands, and that the secretion patterns of MG1 and
MG2 in whole saliva are quite different from one another.
