title: Parotid gland function and dentin apposition in rat molars.
abstract: Previous studies have clearly established the down-regulating effect of a sucrose-rich diet on primary dentinogenesis in rat molars. Earlier observation of the negative effect of a high-sucrose diet on a parotid function involved in the control of intradentinal solute movement led us to hypothesize that parotid gland function(s) may have a role in regulating dentinogenesis. Dentin apposition in 1st and 2nd molars of young rats was measured by planimetry in sagittal sections. The following experimental variables were tested: standard and high-sucrose diets, removal of the parotid or the submandibular/sublingual glands, and diets in powder or pellet form. Removal of the submandibular/sublingual glands and changes in diet consistency did not significantly affect dentin apposition. Dentin apposition was significantly depressed by the high-sucrose diet or following parotidectomy. A further decrease followed the combination of the two treatments. Parotid glands appeared to exert a positive effect on dentin apposition in rat molars.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology/Pharmacology, Risley Hall, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, CA 92350, USA. Jleonora@som.llu.edu
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Leonora
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tjäderhane
authors.forename: J-M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Tieche
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D003810:Dentinogenesis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D019422:Dietary Sucrose / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008963:Molar; D010306:Parotid Gland / Q000502:physiology* / Q000601:surgery; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
chemical_list: D019422:Dietary Sucrose