title: Characteristics of the saliva flow rates of minor salivary glands in healthy people.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the normal range and characteristics of saliva secretion in the minor salivary glands (MSGs).
  
  
  METHODS
  The flow rates of MSGs were measured in 4 anatomical locations of oral mucosa, and the relationship between MSG flow rates and whole saliva flow rates were assessed in 300 healthy subjects stratified by age and sex. An additional 30 young females were further evaluated for flow symmetry, effects of stimulation, circadian effects in MSGs, and the relationship with the flow rates of major salivary glands.
  
  
  RESULTS
  (1) The mean saliva flow rates were 2.10 ± 0.66 (lower labial glands), 2.14 ± 0.62 (upper labial glands), 2.88 ± 0.72 (buccal glands) and 2.15 ± 0.51 (palatal glands) μl/min/cm(2), respectively. The flow rate of buccal glands was significantly higher than the rates of SMGs in other locations (P < 0.01). (2) 5-year-old children had the lowest MSG flow rates (P < 0.0001) while the 10-14-year-old group had the highest (P < 0.001). (3) MSG flow rates were independent of sex (P > 0.05), right vs. left (P > 0.05), and citric acid (2.5%) stimulation (P > 0.05). (4) Only labial MSG displayed a significant secretory circadian rhythm with the highest rate in the evening (P < 0.05). (5) A weak correlation was found between the flow rate of palatal glands and that of unstimulated whole saliva (r = 0.195, P = 0.007).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings provide a reference for functional evaluation of MSGs and for donor site selection of MSG transplantation for treatment of severe dry eye syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, 100081, Beijing, PR China.
authors.forename: Zhen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Stomatology, the Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, 050000, Shijiazhuang, PR China.
authors.forename: Ming-Ming
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, 100081, Beijing, PR China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Jing
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Dentistry, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, 100081, Beijing, PR China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Si
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, 100081, Beijing, PR China. Electronic address: gyyu@263.net.
authors.forename: Guang-Yan
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Yu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012470:Salivary Glands, Minor / Q000378:metabolism*; D012472:Salivation / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Minor salivary gland; Saliva; Saliva flow rate; Saliva secretion; Salivary gland