Effects of acute ethanol administration on stimulated parotid secretion in the rat

Efeitos do alcoolismo crônico e da desintoxicação alcóolica sobre a glândula submandibular de ratos: estudo morfométrico

Este estudo consiste de uma análise morfométrica de diversas estruturas parenquimatosas da glândula submandibular de ratos submetidos ao alcoolismo crônico experimental e de ratos recuperados após 30 dias de desintoxicação. Foram utilizados 3 grupos (5 animais por grupo): Controle, Alcoolizado e Desintoxicado. O fato do álcool atuar nos tecidos corporais, leva-nos a acreditar que possam ocorrer alterações na morfologia da glândula submandibular de ratos submetidos ao alcoolismo crônico. De fato, após os processos de alcoolização e desintoxicação há ocorrência de diferenças estatisticamente significantes quando confrontamos os 3 grupos entre si (dois a dois) no que se refere à massa corpórea dos animais (g) e da glândula submandibular (mg), ocorrendo, normalmente, uma redução tanto do grupo alcoolizado quanto do grupo desintoxicado em relação ao grupo controle e um significante aumento das massas corpórea e glandular do grupo desintoxicado em relação ao grupo alcoolizado. Quanto ao volume absoluto das diversas estruturas glandulares analisadas constatou-se diferenças estatisticamente significantes nos compartimentos acinar e do ducto granuloso, onde os grupos alcoolizado e desintoxicado apresentaram menor volume absoluto em relação ao grupo controle. Quanto aos outros parâmetros estereológicos estudados não houve diferenças estatisticamente significantes entre os grupos e entre as diversas estruturas glandulares analisadas.

Saliva flow rate, amylase activity, and protein and electrolyte concentrations in saliva after acute alcohol consumption

OBJECTIVE

The aim of our study was to evaluate the effects of acute alcohol consumption on saliva secretion rate and selected salivary parameters in healthy nonalcoholic volunteers.

STUDY DESIGN

Twenty-four volunteers (37.7 +/- 9.6 years, mean +/- SD) consumed 0.6 g or 0.7 g alcohol/kg of body weight (for women and men, respectively) in a soft drink. Saliva samples were collected, first (S0) before any alcohol was consumed, 45 minutes after consumption (S1) and, finally, 60 minutes after S1 (S2). Flow rates of both resting whole saliva and paraffin-stimulated (SWS) whole saliva were assessed. SWS was assessed for amylase, total protein, inorganic phosphate (PO4(3-)), sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), and calcium (Ca2+) content.

RESULTS

SWS, but not resting whole saliva (in milliliters/minute), decreased significantly after consumption of alcohol. Amylase activity (P =.010) and the concentrations of Na+ (P =.000) and Ca2+ (P =.002) decreased significantly between S0 and S1. When SWS was analyzed for output, the total protein concentration (S0 to S1, P =.000; S0 to S2, P =.033) and amylase activity (S0 to S1, P =.000) decreased significantly. Further, the output of all the studied electrolytes decreased significantly as blood alcohol concentration increased.

CONCLUSIONS

We conclude that acute alcohol consumption causes a decrease in SWS flow rate. The decrease in flow rate also results in impaired output of total protein and amylase, as well as in a decrease in the output of electrolytes.

Chronic alcoholism: an important condition in the dentist-patient relationship

OBJECTIVES

This paper aims to give the dental practitioner an insight into the impact of chronic alcoholism on sufferers.

METHODS

A review of the psychiatric and dental literature covering the aetiology, prevalence and complications is presented.

CONCLUSIONS

Chronic alcoholism has a number of serious medical and social problems which may affect the provision of dental treatment. It is important for the dental practitioner to be aware of the impact of this condition on patients as he or she may be in an ideal position to stop the alcoholic before a medical consultation has been sought.

Protein synthesis in the major salivary glands of the rat and the effects of re-feeding and acute ethanol injection

Rates of protein synthesis in the major salivary glands of the rat were accurately determined in vivo using the 'flooding dose' technique and the effects of reflex stimulation through feeding or acute ethanol treatment were assessed. Rats were divided into three groups. The control group was fasted overnight, the re-fed group was also fasted then re-fed the following morning and the third group received an intraperitoneal injection of ethanol after an overnight fast. In control rats the sublingual gland had a higher rate of protein synthesis than the other glands. After a feed the rate of protein synthesis in parotid glands was approximately double that of controls whilst that of the submandibular glands had increased by 24% and the sublingual glands remained unchanged. Acute ethanol injection led to a reduced rate of protein synthesis in all glands. The higher rate of protein synthesis in sublingual glands under fasting conditions may be related to the spontaneous secretion of fluid and protein from this gland, which would require a constant replenishment of secretory protein by synthesis. Protein synthesis in the parotid gland, like secretion, appears to be closely linked with the reflex stimulation caused by mastication. The smaller increase in rate of protein synthesis seen in the submandibular gland after a re-feed does not appear to have been recorded before. It could be mediated by the increased reflex stimuli caused by mastication or by some circulating factor. The mechanism by which ethanol reduces protein synthesis in all glands is uncertain.