Physiological regulation of oral saliva ion composition and flow rate are not coupled in healthy humans—Partial revision of our current knowledge required

• Published in: Pflügers Archiv 2025-01, Vol.477 (1), p.55-65
• Main Authors: Schwerdt, Gerald, Schulz, Marie-Christin, Kopf, Michael, Mildenberger, Sigrid, Reime, Sarah, Gekle, Michael
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Bicarbonates - metabolism; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Cell Biology; Chlorides - metabolism; Female; Human Physiology; Humans; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Integrative Physiology; Male; Middle Aged; Molecular Medicine; Neurosciences; Osmolar Concentration; Physiology; Potassium - metabolism; Receptors; Saliva; Saliva - chemistry; Saliva - metabolism; Sodium - metabolism; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0031-6768; 1432-2013; 1432-2013
• DOI: 10.1007/s00424-024-03025-9

Appropriate composition of oral saliva is essential for a healthy milieu that protects mucosa and teeth. Only few studies, with small sample numbers, investigated physiological saliva ion composition in humans. We determined saliva ion composition in a sufficiently large cohort of healthy adults and analyzed the effect of physiological stimulation. We collected saliva from 102 adults under non-stimulated and physiologically stimulated conditions (chewing). Individual flow rates, pH, osmolality, Na + , K + , Cl − , and HCO 3 − concentrations under both conditions as well as the individual changes due to stimulation (Δvalues) were determined. Non-stimulated saliva was hypoosmolal and acidic. Na + , Cl − , and HCO 3 − concentrations remained well below physiological plasma values, whereas K + concentrations exceeded plasma values more than twofold. Stimulation resulted in a doubling of flow rates and substantial increases in pH, HCO 3 − , and Na + concentrations. Overall, stimulation did not considerably affect osmolality nor K + or Cl − concentrations of saliva. An in-depth analysis of stimulation effects, using individual Δvalues, showed no correlation of Δflow rate with Δion concentrations, indicating independent regulation of acinar volume and ductal ion transport. Stimulation-induced Δ[Na + ] correlated with Δ[HCO 3 − ] and Δ[Cl − ] but not with Δ[K + ], indicating common regulation of ductal Na + , Cl − , and HCO 3 − transport. We present a robust data set of human oral saliva ion composition in healthy adults and functional insights into physiological stimulation. Our data show (i) that flow-dependence exists for Na + and HCO 3 − but not for K + and Cl − concentrations, (ii) osmolality is flow-independent, (iii) regulation of Na + , Cl − , and HCO 3 − transport is coupled, (iv) regulation of flow rate and ion concentrations are independent and (v) spatially separated between acini and ducts, respectively.