title: Effect of a moderate vitamin A deficiency on saliva secretion rate and some salivary glycoproteins in adult rat.
abstract: The study presents the effect of a low vitamin A intake on saliva secretion rate and some salivary glycoproteins in the adult rat. Sixteen rats in the experimental group were fed a vitamin A deficient diet (0.11 micrograms retinol/g diet) and 14 rats in the control group a diet with adequate content of vitamin A (4.74 micrograms/g diet). At the end of the experimental period of 10 wk, whole saliva, blood, and liver samples were collected. No difference in the serum content of retinol was seen between the two groups. The liver values were significantly lower for the rats in the experimental group compared to the values in the control group. No difference was seen between the two groups in saliva secretion rate, salivary peroxidase activity, or the concentrations of total protein and markers for total glycoprotein secretion. However, the activity of a bacteria agglutinating glycoprotein, BAGP, was significantly reduced in the rats fed the vitamin A deficient diet.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cariology, University of Umeå, Sweden.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Johansson
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lumikari
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ericson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D008297:Male; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism*; D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides / Q000032:analysis*; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015430:Weight Gain
chemical_list: D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides