Pao-Li Wang (1), Shinya Shirasu (2), Mitsuko Shinohara (1), Noboru Murakawa
(1), Masaki Endo (1), Shigeki Sakata (1), Makoto Okamura (1), Michiharu
Daito (2) and Kiyoshi Ohura (1)
Department of (1) Pharmacology and (2) Pediatric Dentistry, Osaka Dental
University, 8-1 Kuzuhahanazono-cho, Hirakata, Osaka 573-1121, Japan
Abstract: Wistar strain rats fed low calcium diets (1, 2, 3,
4, 6 and 8 weeks) exhibited changes in secretory function of whole saliva.
In particular, there were changes in salivary flow rate, total salivary
protein, amylase enzyme activity, salivary amylase content and the level
of cyclic AMP in the parotid gland acinar cell. Although there were no changes
for the first 3 weeks, the levels increased at week 4 and decreased at week
6. The wet weight of the parotid gland started to decrease at week 4. These
results suggest that when fed low calcium diets for long periods of time,
rats develop defective salivary secretion.
Keywords: Saliva, Amylase, Low Ca diet, Parotid gland, Cyclic AMP