SALIVARY CARBONIC-ANHYDRASE-VI CONCENTRATION AND ITS RELATION TO BASIC CHARACTERISTICS OF SALIVA IN YOUNG MEN

Two successive saliva samples were collected under strictly standardiz ed conditions from 209 healthy, selected male soldiers prior to and af ter breakfast in the morning and were assayed for carbonic anhydrase ( CA) Vi concentrations using a specific time-resolved immunofluorometri c assay. Salivary secretion rates, pH and buffer capacity pH values, a nd amylase activity levels were also determined. CA VI concentrations correlated positively to salivary secretion rates and amylase activity levels. By contrast, no significant correlation was seen between CA V i concentrations and pH or buffer capacity pH values, nor between amyl ase activity levels and salivary secretion rates, pH or buffer capacit y pH values. The smokers had unaltered salivary secretion rates, CA VI and amylase activity levels, but lower salivary pH and buffer capacit y pH values than the non-smokers. Present results suggest that salivar y CA Vi is not directly involved in the regulation of pH in saliva.