The Effect of Prolonged Stimulation of Salivary Flow on Bacterial Reactive Factors

Abstract

Prolonged stimulation of salivary flow leads to major changes in the concentrations of certain bacterial aggregating factors and strain-specific antibodies. Aggregating activity for a strain of Streptococcus sanguis was reduced rapidly, while activities for three strains of S. mutans remained unchanged, and activities for two other strains increased several-fold. The results were independent of changes in salivary protein and calcium. Concentrations of IgA and specific IgA antibodies for three S. mutans strains decreased progressively with continued stimulation. Similar results were obtained with parotid, submandibular, and whole saliva. These findings indicate that the rates of release of the different bacterial reactive substances from the salivary glands often follow independent courses and, furthermore, that the spectrum of reactivities of these substances changes with flow rate. Such changes may be reflected in the bacterial composition of plaque.