Abstract
Summary
Parotid fluid was collected without exogenous stimulation from 309 healthy young adult males. Subjects with rates of flow less than 0.018 ml/min were excluded due to sample size requirements. The mean rate of flow for all participants was 0.049 ml/min. Other means were: total solids, 0.72%; pH 5.92, viscosity, 1.08 cP; calcium 1.63 meq/liter, and magnesium 0.25 meq/liter. Rate of flow exerted a significant negative effect on total solids, viscoscity, calcium, and magnesium. The positive correlation between flow and pH was explained as reflecting a parallel relationship between bicarbonate and flow rate. These changes are compatible with the premise that, at these very low levels of gland function, decreases in flow rate bring into dominance the process of passive diffusion of water from the saliva down an osmotic gradient produced by sodium reabsorption. This tentative explanation is offered in the absence of definitive data regarding ductal secretion of the variables under study.
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