Abstract

The effect of feeding, bilateral parotidectomy, pilocarpine treatment, visual and olfactory, and masticatory stimuli on parotid hormone (PH) secretion is reported. Feeding a regular chow was shown to be a potent stimulus for PH secretion. The parotid endocrine system is highly sensitive to the eating stimulus, since a period of feeding lasting 30 sec is enough to cause a significant increase in PH secretion. The parotid glands are the principal source of PH as shown by the marked decrease in basal PH titer, and a virtual absence of response of PH to feeding in parotidectomized pigs. Pilocarpine administration provoked profuse salivation, but failed to increase significantly PH plasma titer. No significant increase in PH level occurred when visual and olfactory and masticatory stimuli were tested for 10 minutes. However, a chow meal given 30 minutes later, produced the typical PH response. Since an inverse relationship between dentinal fluid transport (DFT) and dental caries has been demonstrated, and that PH regulates DPT; it is suggested that eating, while providing substrate for the oral microbial flora, activates at the same time a systemic defense mechanism against dental decay by stimulating the release of PH, which in turn stimulates DFT. The mechanism of release of PH from the parotids may be a neuroendocrine reflex mediated through the hypothalamic-parotid gland endocrine axis.

LLU Discipline

Physiology

Department

Physiology

School

Graduate School

First Advisor

John Leonora

Second Advisor

Ramon Gonzalez Jr.

Third Advisor

George Maeda

Fourth Advisor

Jean-Marc Tieche

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Degree Level

M.S.

Year Degree Awarded

1983

Date (Title Page)

12-1983

Language

English

Library of Congress/MESH Subject Headings

Parotid Gland; Pilocarpine; Swine

Type

Dissertation

Page Count

ill; 26

Digital Format

PDF

Digital Publisher

Loma Linda University Libraries

Usage Rights

This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights.

Collection

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Collection Website

http://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/

Repository

Loma Linda University. Del E. Webb Memorial Library. University Archives

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