Physiological and pharmacological regulation of human salivary electrolyte concentrations; with a discussion of electrolyte concentrations of some other exocrine secretions.

Abstract

The electrolyte content of paraffin-stimulated, whole, mixed saliva obtained from patients with congestive heart failure is characterized by lower sodium, lower chloride, and higher potassium concentrations than saliva of normal subjects (1). Since these data suggested possible increased adrenal cortical activity in patients with heart failure, desoxycorticosterone acetate (DCA) was administered to nineteen normal subjects. It also seemed of interest to study additional pharmacological and physiological mechanisms that may play a role in the regulation of salivary electrolyte concentrations. Thus, the aims of this communication are to present: 1) Data on normal salivary concentrations of sodium, chloride, and potassium; 2) data relating to physiological mechanisms regulating the concentrations of salivary electrolytes; and 3) the effects on salivary electrolytes of three pharmacologic agents: desoxycorticosterone acetate (DCA), pilocarpine, and Mercuhydrin@.