Abstract
The purpose of our study was to investigate the reliability of the E. I. A. S-IgA test (made by M. B. L. ) and the circudian rhythm of secretory IgA (S-IgA)concentration, the S-IgA/albumin ratio, S-IgA/total protein (T. P. ) ratio in whole saliva of healthy people. Whole saliva was collected from 51 children and 42adults. Parotid saliva was collected from 27 adults. Concentration of S-IgA and S-IgA/T. P. ratio were measured. The results were as follows.
1) High reliability on the E. I. A. S-IgA test was confirmed by use of the dilution test, the recovery test, and the repeatability test.
2) We limited the conditions for collecting the saliva severely, but the circudian rhythm of the concentration of S-IgA in saliva was large. The S-IgA/albumin ratio was not suitable to minimize the circudian rhythm of a concentration of S-IgA, but the S-IgA/T. P. ratio was suitable.
3) Concentration of S-IgA in the saliva of children (age 3-6) was significantly lower than in that of adults. The same results were found in the case of of the S-IgA/T. P. ratio.
4) A significant difference between male and female of children and adults was not found in concentration of S-IgA and S-IgA/T. P. ratio.
5) There was no correlation of the concentration of S-IgA between whole saliva and parotid saliva, and the concentration of S-IgA as well as the S-IgA/T. P. ratio was significantly high in whole saliva.
