Physiological Control and

Mechanism of salivation
Dr Oyetola Elijah Olufemi
Senior Lecturer/Consultant Oral
Medicine, OAU/OAUTHC
 Introduction
• Saliva in the mouth is a biofluid produced
mainly by three pairs of major salivary glands--
the submandibular, parotid and sublingual
glands as well as with secretions from many
minor submucosal salivary glands
• About 1-1.5Liter is produced daily and the
secretion is controlled by some physiological
processes
• Salivary secretion can be defined as a
unilateral movement of fluid electrolytes and
macromolecules into mouth in response to
appropriate stimulation
• Salivary gland secretion is a nerve-mediated
reflex
 Saliva Formation: 2 Stage model
• Stage 1
– Acini cell secrete a NaCl-rich fluid called primary saliva, this is
isotonic to plasma
– The substrate is obtained from the plasma via the blood supply
• Stage 2
– Modification of primary saliva as the saliva pass through the
ductal tree
– Modification involves secretion and reabsorption of ions into
the primary saliva
– The ductal epithelium is poorly permeable to water
– Final saliva is thus Hypotonic
5
 The Volume Secreted depends on
• Type of taste
• Intensity of taste
• Chemosensory stimulation
• Masticatory stimulation
• Tactile stimulation
• Anxiety
• The quality (ions) of saliva depends on the
degree of modification process
• Saliva gland acinar cells are chloride and
sodium secreting, and the isotonic fluid
produced is rendered hypotonic by salivary
gland duct cells as it flows to the mouth
• The major proteins present in saliva are
secreted by salivary glands, creating
viscoelasticity and enabling the coating of oral
surfaces with saliva
• The nerve-mediated salivary reflex is
modulated by nerve signals from other centers
in the central nervous system, which is most
obvious as hyposalivation at times of anxiety
• An example of other neurohormonal
influences on the salivary reflex is the circadian
rhythm, which affects salivary flow and ionic
composition
 Physiological Controls-Nerve Stimulation

• NERVE STIMULATION
• Effects of nervous system on saliva production
• Interplay of adrenergic and non adrenergic
stimulation
 Physiological control- Neurohormonal
influences
Circadian rhythm / diurnal variation
• Mammals possess circadian clock systems that
control various physiological phenomena such
as body temperature, sleep-wake cycles,
salivation and liver metabolism
• Circadian clock systems are organized by a
central clock called the suprachiasmatic nuclei
(SCN),  and by peripheral clocks located in many
peripheral organs
• A circadian rhythm is any biological process
that displays an endogenous, entrainable
oscillation of about 24 hours
• A diurnal rhythm is a biological rhythm that is
synchronized with the day/night cycle. It may
or may not be a circadian rhythm
• A diurnal rhythm is a biological rhythm that is
synchronized with the day/night cycle. It may
or may not be a  circadian rhythm.
• A biological rhythm is considered a circadian if
these three criteria are met:
– (1) an endogenous free-running (approximately)
24-hour period,
– (2) a rhythm that is entrainable, i.e. capable
of phase reset by environmental cues and
synchronization to the 24-h day, and
– (3) exhibiting temperature compensation
Diurnal Variation/Circadian Rhythm
• Protein concentration tends to be high in the afternoon
• Sodium and chloride concentration are high in early hour
of the morning
• K high in the afternoon
• Ca and phosphate appear stable during the day
• Calcium concentration increase during the night
• Unstimulated whole saliva showed significant circadian
rhythms in flow rate and in the concentrations of sodium
and chloride but not in protein, potassium, calcium,
phosphate or urea.
 pH
• Studies showed a gradual increase in pH until
1500-1600 h but instead of a plateau, the pH
gradually decreased over time, from 1500-
1600 h and during sleep
 Intraoral Temperature and Flow rate
• The intraoral temperature was found to
flunctuate more during daytime but remain
stable during sleep
• It is well known that during sleep the salivary
flow rate is extremely low
• Because salivary flow rate drops so markedly
during sleep, it would seem that the most
important time to carry out oral hygiene
procedures would be before going to bed.
• Rhythmical Clock gene expression in the
salivary gland is controlled by sympathetic
activation via the SCN
• Salivary IgA concentrations display diurnal
variations in human experiments, and
concentrations peak during sleep
• Signaling processes modulating IgA secretion
may be controlled by circadian rhythms.
• IgA plays first line roles in oral mucosa
immunity
 salivary oxidative stress marker 8-hydroxyguanine

• The levels were higher at the time of

awakening
• The daytime levels of salivary 8-OHGua may
be appropriate for evaluating the individual
oxidative stress status
Physiological control- Duration of stimulation

• If salivary gland are stimulated for longer than

three minutes, the concentration of many
components are reduced.
• However, after a short period bicarbonate,
calcium and protein concentration begin to
rise again
 Dietry Factors
• Brought about by
– Gustatory factors
– Mechanical stimulation
 Plasma concentration
• Amino acid, calcium, glucose and urea are
correlated with the plasma concentration
 CONCLUSION
• Salivary secretion is affected by physiological
processes-neural, hormonal e.t.c
• Saliva secretion is in two stages: secretion and
modification forming primary and secondary
saliva respectively
• Nerve stimulation, circadian rhythm, diets,
and neurohormonal influences affect the
production of saliva.
• THANK YOU