Antimicrobial protein secretion in the rat submandibular gland induced by aroma inhalation
Takayuki Izutani, Kenji Uchihashi and Yasuo Nishikawa (Dept. Physiology, Osaka Dental Univ.)
Application of aroma is likely to enhance antimicrobial action. We attempted to clarify whether aroma promotes anti bacterial protein secretion in saliva. We found no spontaneous secretion from the submandibular gland in the control rats. Altrhough aroma inhalation elicited successively increased secretory responses, it did not attain that achieved by isoprenaline stimulation. The salivary amylase activity induced by aroma inhalation was approximately 10％that of isoprenaline stimulation. Combined use of isoprenaline stimulation and aroma inhalation enhanced both SIgA and lac toferrin concentration compared with stimulation by isoprenaline alone. These results suggest that the use of aroma enhances salivary antibacterial activity, and that this activity may be induced by the sympathetic nervous system. We hypothesized that aromas might positively influence the intraoral environment.
