A simple test for salivary gland function measuring resting and stimulated submandibular and sublingual secretions.
OBJECTIVE
This study examined the application of a simple screening test for salivary gland function by measuring resting and stimulated submandibular and sublingual secretions.


METHODS
An assay system was designed to use filter paper incorporating the chromophore of melanoidin or stimuli such as capsaicin and citric acid. We investigated the relationship between resting and stimulated secretions and melanoidin migration at 2 minutes for healthy and dry mouth groups.


RESULTS
The healthy group showed a significant increase in the migration of melanoidin in the paper after citric acid or capsaicin stimulation. In contrast, patients with Sjögren syndrome showed no significant migration in spite of the stimulation. However, some participants with Sjögren syndrome or dry mouth showed a significant increase in the migration of melanoidin after stimulation.


CONCLUSIONS
These results show that the newly developed method should be useful for evaluation of residual salivary gland function and screening for hyposalivation with dry mouth.
Lecturer, Division of Preventive Dentistry, Graduate School of Dental Medicine, Hokkaido University, Japan.
Takashi
T
Kanehira
Assistant Professor, Division of Preventive Dentistry, Graduate School of Dental Medicine, Hokkaido University, Japan.
Hirohisa
H
Hongou
Professor and Chairman, Division of Applied Bioscience, Research Group of Molecular Bioscience, Graduate School of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Japan.
Kozo
K
Asano
Professor and Chairman, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Japan.
Manabu
M
Morita
Professor, Department of Health and Sport Management, Osaka University of Health and Sport Sciences, and Third Department of Internal Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Japan.
Etsuko
E
Maeshima
Director, Department of Oral Surgery and Dentistry, JR Sapporo Hospital, Japan.
Akemi
A
Matsuda
Visiting Researcher, Serotec Laboratory, Japan. Electronic address: w-sakamoto@serotec.co.jp.
Wataru
W
Sakamoto
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002211:Capsaicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D019343:Citric Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011108:Polymers; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism*; D012636:Secretory Rate / Q000502:physiology; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013361:Sublingual Gland / Q000502:physiology*; D013363:Submandibular Gland / Q000502:physiology*
D011108:Polymers; C011908:melanoidin polymers; D019343:Citric Acid; D002211:Capsaicin