Faculty Bibliography

Lingual amylase and lingual lipase, two digestive enzymes that are secreted from lingual serous glands (von Ebner's), were simultaneously purified from rat lingual serous glands with hydrophobic chromatography used as the final step. This method, previously developed for the purification of lingual lipase, includes homogenization of rat lingual serous glands, 100,000 g centrifugation, ammonium sulfate precipitation of proteins, and extraction of lipids with acetone at -20 degrees C, followed by hydrophobic chromatography on ethyl agarose or Agethane. Amylase was eluted after the elution of proteins that did not interact with the hydrophobic gel at pH 6.3. Lingual lipase was eluted with a solution containing micelles of taurodeoxycholate, monoolein, and oleic acid. Analysis of each of the purified enzymes by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed one band at Mr = 59,000 for amylase and one band at Mr = 51,000 for lingual lipase. Isoelectric focusing of amylase indicated a strong band at pI = 5.0 and two very faint bands at pI = 4.9 and 4.8, possibly isozymes or deamidated protein. Amino acid and hexosamine analyses were performed on the enzymes after electroelution from SDS-polyacrylamide gels. Both lingual lipase and lingual amylase had a high content of dicarboxylic (free and amide) amino acids. For lingual lipase and lingual amylase, the % molar ratios of aspartic acid/asparagine were 15.35 and 15.10, and the % molar ratios of glutamic acid/glutamine were 7.07 and 7.20, respectively. Lingual amylase was very similar to rat parotid, pancreatic, and mouse salivary amylases, except that it contained more proline (11.03% molar ratio).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Taste papillae from mouse and rat tongues were removed by cutting them out with a glass capillary tube. The method is fast, requires little tissue handling and should prove useful especially in mice where the entire tongue is < 1 cm in length

Proline-rich proteins are major components of salivary secretion from humans non-human primates, rats, hamsters and rabbits. They are also synthesized in mice in response to chronic stimulation by beta agonists. This study to provide an understanding of the structural and genetic relationships within these families of proteins to determine the possible function of the proline-rich proteins. Rabbit parotid saliva was collected and proline-rich proteins were affinity purified using goat antibodies to human proline-rich proteins. Purification was achieved by repeated cation exchange chromatography on a Mono S column a Fast Protein Liquid Chromatography system. Six basic proline-rich proteins were purified. The apparent molecular weights were between 75,000 and 125,000, based on their mobilities in sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Glycine, glutamine (and glutamate) and proline accounted for 79-87% of total amino acids in all proteins, but proline was present in smaller amounts (17-21%) than in proline-rich proteins from other species. All proteins were glycosylated but not phosphorylated. Circular dichroism of two proline-rich proteins, MS7A and MS5B, indicated the absence of secondary structure. The N-terminal sequences of three proteins electro-eluted after preparative gel electrophoresis were determined. A high degree of similarity was found in various regions of mouse, rat, monkey and human proline-rich proteins. Rabbits thus synthesize constitutively a family of proteins that are immununologically and structurally related to proline-rich proteins other species

The foregoing case report describes a procedure that can be used to remove newly fractured roots. It is recommended that a Hedstrom file be used in cases in which the roots are loosened before they are fractured and provided that proper visibility and sufficient space in the root canal in which to introduce the file exist. This method, used alone or in combination with closed or open procedures, can be helpful for removing roots that are close to the maxillary sinus or mandibular canal. In the aforementioned case, the Hedstrom file's being threaded into the root tip was a safeguard against pushing the root tips into the surrounding anatomic structures. A method of using a Hedstrom file has been described for the removal of newly fractured root tips. If conditions are adequate, this method is simple and effective

The flow rate and composition of whole unstimulated saliva were measured in fifteen healthy controls and in forty-eight xerostomic patients, fourteen suffering from xerostomia per se, twenty-two from xerostomia with keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS), and twelve from xerostomia, KCS, and rheumatoid arthritis. A significant lower salivary flow rate was found in all the xerostomic patients. Sodium, potassium, and IgA concentrations were significantly elevated in the KCS and in the RA + KCS group in comparison with the patients who had xerostomia per se and with the healthy controls. Sialochemistry is thus recommended for the diagnosis of Sjogren's syndrome in xerostomic patients.

Seventy-one patients complaining of mouth dryness were examined. Decreased salivary rate of flow was found in fifty-six. Twenty-two patients did not respond to stimulation and were treated with artificial saliva. The thirty-four responding patients were treated with a mouthwash containing citric acid (Saliram). Of the patients using Saliram, 91 percent were satisfied with the results, and in 16 percent of these an increase in salivation was observed and persisted after treatment was discontinued.