Effect of iron-deficiency anaemia on saliva secretion rate and composition in the rat.
Iron-deficiency anaemia in man may be associated with dry mouth symptoms, such as atrophic glossitis and 'burning mouth', and a low serum iron concentration or iron-deficiency anaemia with aphthous stomatitis or non-ulcerative conditions of the oral mucosa. This study was made on one group of growing rats and another group of adult rats. The iron-deprived rats in both groups gained less weight than control rats. Saliva secretion rate was significantly lower in growing, but not in adult, iron-deprived rats than in the corresponding control groups. The activity of salivary peroxidase was significantly lower in both growing and adult rats with iron-deficiency anaemia than in their control groups. The conclusion is that iron-deficiency anaemia in the rat impairs the protection provided by the salivary peroxidase system, e.g. to hydrogen peroxide, and that saliva secretion rate may be reduced.
Johansson
I
I
Department of Cariology, University of Umeå, Sweden.
Fagernäs
C
C
D000747:Anemia, Hypochromic / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000818:Animals; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D012636:Secretory Rate; D015430:Weight Gain
D006454:Hemoglobins; D009195:Peroxidase