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Aging and Secretory Reserve Capacity of Major Salivary Glands

¹ University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Department of Cariology, Restorative Sciences, and Endodontics, Ann Arbor;
² New York University College of Dentistry, Department of Oral Medicine, and Bluestone Center for Clinical Research, 421 First Avenue, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10010-4086, USA;

*corresponding author, jonathan.ship{at}nyu.edu

A loss of acinar cells occurs with aging, while salivary production remains age-stable in healthy adults. It is hypothesized that a secretory reserve exists to preserve function despite a loss of acinar cells in normal aging. The purpose of this double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study was to determine age-related differences in salivary response to an anti-sialogogue (glycopyrrolate). Thirty-six healthy subjects (18 young - 20-38 yrs; 18 older - 60-77 yrs) received 4.0 µg/kg IV glycopyrrolate. Parotid and submandibular/sublingual saliva samples and xerostomia questionnaire responses were collected. Variables calculated for each subject were: times to initial and maximum suppression and xerostomic complaint; time to recovery; and durations of suppression and complaint. Salivary function was more adversely affected in older persons. There were no consistent age-associated questionnaire response differences. These findings suggest that salivary gland output is more adversely affected by an anti-sialogogue in healthy older vs. younger adults, supporting the secretory reserve hypothesis of salivary function.

KEY WORDS: aging • reserve • saliva • parotid • submandibular/sublingual • xerostomia

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. D. Turner and J. A. Ship Dry Mouth and Its Effects on the Oral Health of Elderly People J Am Dent Assoc, September 1, 2007; 138(suppl_1): 15S - 20S. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]