I. Dawidson et al., Sensory stimulation (acupuncture) increases the release of calcitonin gene-related peptide in the saliva of xerostomia sufferers, NEUROPEPTID, 33(3), 1999, pp. 244-250
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.