Nizatidine and cisapride enhance salivary secretion in humans.

Abstract

Salivation plays an important role in the defence of the oesophageal mucosa against gastric acidic reflux and can be evoked by cholinergic stimulation. Both nizatidine and cisapride have been reported to increase acetylcholine concentrations in the cholinergic system. To investigate the effect of nizatidine and cisapride on salivary secretion, salivary epidermal growth factor and bicarbonate output. The salivary volume and concentration of salivary epidermal growth factor and bicarbonate were measured after the administration of nizatidine (150 mg), famotidine (20 mg) and cisapride (5 mg) in 30 male healthy volunteers. Basal and stimulated salivary secretions were found to be increased after the administration of nizatidine and cisapride. In contrast, salivary secretion was not increased by famotidine. Although epidermal growth factor content was not augmented, nizatidine and cisapride administration also increased the bicarbonate output in mastication-stimulated saliva. Increased salivary secretion and bicarbonate output induced by nizatidine may be useful for the treatment of patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease.