Desipramine changes salivary gland function, oral microbiota, and oral health in rats

Tricyclic antidepressants are still a dominating group of psychotherapeutic drugs used in the treatment of depression. Oral dryness is one of their ma jor side-effects, leading in humans to increased oral disease and dysfuncti on of speech, chewing, swallowing and taste. We previously reported that th e tricyclic antidepressant desipramine desensitizes P-adrenergic signal tra nsduction in salivary glands. In this study, we evaluated the effects of th is treatment on parotid and submandibular gland function, oral microbiota, and oral health in rats. Total protein secretion and salivary or-amylase wa s not affected by treatment, while cellular ol-amylase and the content of e pidermal growth factor was depressed. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed increased secretion for proline-rich proteins and glycoproteins. Surprisingly, flow rates were temporarily increased. Th ese alterations in salivary gland function may partially explain the observ ed changes in oral microbiota and the increased incidence of gingivitis. Un der other nutritional conditions, desipramine might have more severe impact s on oral health. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.