title: Destruction of parotid glands affects nitrate and nitrite metabolism.
abstract: The role of salivary glands in nitrate and nitrite metabolism is poorly understood. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of parotid gland ablation on dynamic metabolism of nitrate and nitrite in miniature pigs. The parotid glands of 5 healthy miniature pigs were bilaterally ablated by methyl violet. Concentrations of nitrate and nitrite of whole saliva, serum, and urine samples were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography. Results showed that bilateral ablation of the parotid glands led to a significant decrease of nitrate secretion from blood to saliva (P < 0.05) and thus low nitrite levels. Dysfunction of the parotid glands temporarily increased the systemic level of nitrate in miniature pigs after nitrate loading. This study suggests that the parotid glands play an important role in the balance of nitrate and nitrite levels in both whole saliva and the body.
authors.affiliation: Salivary Gland Disease Center, Faculty of Stomatology, Capital University of Medical Sciences, Tian Tan Xi Li, No. 4, Beijing 100050, PR China.
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005840:Gentian Violet; D008297:Male; D009565:Nitrate Reductases / Q000378:metabolism; D009566:Nitrates / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000652:urine; D009573:Nitrites / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000652:urine; D010306:Parotid Gland / Q000502:physiology*; D017680:Potassium Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry / Q000201:enzymology; D013552:Swine; D013556:Swine, Miniature
chemical_list: D009566:Nitrates; D009573:Nitrites; D017680:Potassium Compounds; D009565:Nitrate Reductases; D005840:Gentian Violet; C023844:potassium nitrate