Sensory stimulation (acupuncture) increases the release of calcitonin gene-related peptide in the saliva of xerostomia sufferers

Over the last decade, several patients afflicted with xerostomia have been treated with acupuncture. Their salivary flow rates increased significantly and the improvement lasted during a long observation period. We also found that the release of several neuropeptides in the saliva of healthy subject s can be increased by acupuncture stimulation. The concentration of vasoact ive intestinal polypeptide increased significantly in the saliva of xerosto mic patients after acupuncture treatment. The release of the neuropeptide c alcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) was investigated in the saliva of xer ostomic patients in order to elucidate further the mechanisms of the effect of sensory stimulation (acupuncture) on the salivary secretion. CGRP-like immunoreactivity was measured with radioimmunoassay (RIA) before and after a double series of acupuncture treatment, in stimulated saliva of 14 patien ts who suffered from xerostomia. The results showed that the concentration of CGRP increased significantly (P<0.001) in the saliva of these patients a fter the end of acupuncture treatment as compared to base-line levels. Taki ng into consideration the influence of CGRP on the salivary flow, as well a s its trophic effect, we concluded that the increased release of CGRP could be one of the factors that affect positively the salivary flow rates of xe rostomic patients who were treated with acupuncture.