HORMONAL-REGULATION OF THE SECRETORY IGA (SIGA) SYSTEM - ESTRADIOL-INDUCED AND PROGESTERONE-INDUCED CHANGES IN SIGA IN PAROTID-SALIVA ALONGTHE MENSTRUAL-CYCLE

The effect of estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4) on the IgA system, both at the systemic and at the mucosal level, was studied in 10 healt hy young adult Mexican women during two consecutive menstrual cycles ( MC); the control group consisted of five young adult Mexican men. Eigh t matched samples of blood and parotid saliva were obtained, in which serum E2, P4, an IgA were quantified. Parotid saliva was obtained with Curby's device and sIgA was quantified by an ELISA method. The MC was divided into follicular phase (FP, days 1 to 16) and luteal phase (LP , days 17 to 30). Serum IgA showed slight fluctuations along the perio d of study, but they were not different between women and men. Irrespe ctive of the phase of the MC, salivary sIgA was higher in women than i n men (P<0.01); sIgA was slightly but not significantly higher in the FP, as compared to the LP. The comparison of phases in each individual woman showed significantly higher levels in the FP (P<0.01). The prof ile of sIgA in saliva observed in women resembled the pattern of serum E2 (r = 0. 859, P<0.05), suggesting a possible relation of E2 in the secretion of sIgA by the parotid gland.