Periodontal Mechanoreceptors and Parotid Secretion in Animals and Man

D. J. Anderson, M. P. Hector

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    55 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Parotid flow was determined in rabbits during feeding. The animals produced more saliva when chewing hard laboratory pellets than with carrots, confirming the findings of Gjörstrup (1980a). We showed that one gland always produced more secretion than the other, and that the dominant gland alternated from side to side with changes in the chewing side. Strain-gauge recordings revealed a remarkable similarity in pattern between mandibular strain and ipsilateral parotid flow. Together, these data suggest that chewing movements and chewing force are involved in the control of parotid secretion. In man, flow rates of parotid saliva collected with a Lashley cup and cannula were recorded. During intermittent clenching on a bite block, we found: (1) a positive correlation between rectified integrated masseter EMG and parotid flow; and (2) that anesthesia of various intra-oral nerves could reduce the flow almost to zero. Crushing a particle of breakfast cereal between two teeth resulted in a reproducible parotid flow which was reduced by infiltration anesthesia around one of these teeth. These data point to the involvement of periodontal mechanoreceptors in the control of parotid secretion in rabbits and man.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)518-523
    Number of pages6
    JournalJournal of Dental Research
    Volume66
    Issue number2
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 1 Feb 1987

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • General Dentistry

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