Salivary secretion: Mechanism and neural regulation

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

131 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Maintenance of a film of saliva on oral surfaces is dependent upon nerve-mediated, reflex salivary gland secretion. Afferent signalling arises from taste, olfaction and mastication and is modified by signalling from other centres in the central nervous system before efferent signals are delivered to salivary glands in autonomic nerves. Salivary fluid secretion is largely dependent upon cholinergic signalling from parasympathetic nerves whilst the protein content of saliva is additionally dependent upon signalling by neuropeptides and, in the major (parotid, submandibular and sublingual) salivary glands, by sympathetic nerves and the release of noradrenaline. There have been significant recent advances in our understanding of the membrane transport proteins involved in intracellular calcium signalling in salivary acinar cells in response to nerve stimulation and of the ion transport proteins responsible for acinar cell secretion of saliva. Salivary glands retain an ability to regenerate following extreme atrophy, and autonomic nerves have an important role in both gland development and maintenance of long-term normal function. Continued advances in the understanding of the nerve-mediated regulation of salivary glands should help in the development of strategies for preventing chronic oral dryness resulting from drugs or atrophic disease associated with inflammation and irradiation.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationMonographs in Oral Science
PublisherS. Karger AG
Pages14-29
Number of pages16
Volume24
ISBN (Print)9783318025958
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2014

Publication series

NameMonographs in Oral Science
Volume24
ISSN (Print)00770892
ISSN (Electronic)16623843

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Salivary secretion: Mechanism and neural regulation'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this