title: Effect of alloxan-diabetes on alpha-amylase and sialic acid levels in the parotid and submandibular glands of rats.
abstract: The relationship of diabetes to salivary gland metabolism has been investigated by comparing the levels of alpha-amylase, sialic acid and total protein in the parotid and submandibular glands, plasma and kidneys of control and alloxan-diabetic rats. A significant decrease in alpha-amylase activity was found in both the parotid and submandibular glands of the diabetic rats by use of both a chemical and an electrophoretic assay. Plasma and kidney levels of the enzyme were not altered in the diabetic rats. Sialic acid levels were not affected by the alloxan-induced diabetes. Although the total protein concentration was significantly altered only in the kidneys of the alloxan-diabetic rats, the electrophoretic patterns of both the parotid and submandibular gland soluble proteins were markedly different between the control and alloxan-diabetic rats. The electrophoretic data indicate that protein metabolism in general, and the alpha-amylase concentration specifically, are altered in the salivary glands of alloxan-diabetic rats.
mesh_terms: D000681:Amylases / Q000032:analysis*; D000818:Animals; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000378:metabolism*; D007668:Kidney / Q000032:analysis / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D010306:Parotid Gland / Q000032:analysis* / Q000201:enzymology; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides / Q000032:analysis*; D012794:Sialic Acids / Q000032:analysis*; D013363:Submandibular Gland / Q000032:analysis* / Q000201:enzymology; D000516:alpha-Amylases / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D001798:Blood Proteins; D011506:Proteins; D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides; D012794:Sialic Acids; D000681:Amylases; D000516:alpha-Amylases