Measuring short-term gamma-irradiation effects on mouse salivary gland function using a new saliva collection device

A restraining device was designed specifically for the collection of whole saliva from mice without using anesthesia. As the procedure does not involv e surgical cannulation of the salivary glands, saliva can be collected from the same mouse at different times. The time between the injection of a sec retory stimulant (pilocarpine) and the appearance of saliva in the mouth (l ag time) was 100.5 +/- 8.5 s (mean +/- S.E.M., n = 10) for control mice. Th e volume of saliva collected in the first 5 min was three times greater tha n that collected between 15 and 20 min. The average flow rate for a collect ion period of 15 min was 16.7 +/- 1.8 ulmin (n = 10). The flow rate was dec reased 50%. (P < 0.005) whereas the lag time was increased more than 300% ( P < 0.05) at 24 h after irradiation. The concentrations of a 23.5-kDa prote in and a mucin were decreased after irradiation whereas there was no signif icant effect on the concentration of amylase or peroxidase. (C) 2001 Elsevi er Science Ltd. All rights reserved.