title: Differences between and within human parotid saliva and nasal mucus cAMP and cGMP in normal subjects and in patients with taste and smell dysfunction.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We previously described some of the moieties in human saliva and nasal mucus including cyclic nucleotides. However, comparison of levels of these latter moieties in saliva and nasal mucus has not been performed and meaning of differences found has not been discussed.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare the levels of cAMP and cGMP in saliva and nasal mucus and to describe the differences in their concentrations and function.
  
  
  METHODS
  cAMP and cGMP in saliva and nasal mucus were compared in normal subjects and patients with taste and smell dysfunction by use of a spectrophotometric colorimetric ELISA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both cAMP and cGMP were present in saliva and nasal mucus of normals and patients with levels of both moieties lower in patients than in normals. In normals, cAMP is 6½ times higher in saliva than in nasal mucus whereas cGMP in nasal mucus is 2½ times higher than in saliva. In patients, these differences persist but are less robust. In normals, within saliva, cAMP is 9½ times higher than cGMP whereas within nasal mucus cAMP is half the level of cGMP. In patients, within saliva, these differences persist but at variable differences.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both saliva and nasal mucus cAMP and cGMP play roles in taste and smell function, and differences in their concentrations may offer insight into these roles. In nasal mucus, cGMP may be more relevant than cAMP in activity of olfactory epithelial cell function. In saliva, cAMP may be more relevant as a growth factor in taste bud function than cGMP.
authors.affiliation: Center for Molecular Nutrition and Sensory Disorders, The Taste and Smell Clinic, Washington, DC 20016, USA. doc@tasteandsmell.com
authors.forename: Robert I
authors.initials: RI
authors.lastname: Henkin
authors.forename: Irina
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Velicu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000032:analysis*; D006152:Cyclic GMP / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009093:Mucus / Q000737:chemistry*; D009666:Nose; D000857:Olfaction Disorders / Q000378:metabolism*; D010306:Parotid Gland / Q000378:metabolism; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry*; D013053:Spectrophotometry; D013651:Taste Disorders / Q000378:metabolism*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000242:Cyclic AMP; D006152:Cyclic GMP