Uptake and efflux of 3-O-methyl-D-glucose in rat parotid cells.

In the framework of recent investigations on the regulation of D-glucose production by salivary glands, the aim of the present study was to compare the uptake of 3-O-[C]methyl-D-glucose by rat parotid cells over a 6-min incubation period at 37°C to its efflux from prelabelled parotid cells, also incubated for 6 min at 37°C. It was first assessed that the intracellular HOH water space, whether expressed in absolute terms or relative to the total HOH distribution space, is not significantly different between parotid cells obtained from either control rats or streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. In the control rats, the uptake of 3-O-[C]methyl-D-glucose corresponded, following correction for extracellular contamination, to a mean distribution space of 0.

A tentative model for (D)-glucose turnover in human saliva.

Objective: The aim of the present study is to propose a tentative model for d-glucose turnover in human saliva. The whole saliva and the saliva from parotid and submandibular/sublingual glands were collected by use of the Salivette™.

Results: The saliva glucose concentration was measured by the hexokinase method, saliva bacteria glycolysis by use of d-[5-(3)H] glucose, and the saliva ATP content by the luciferase method.

Comparison of GLUT1, GLUT2, GLUT4 and SGLT1 mRNA expression in the salivary glands and six other organs of control, streptozotocin-induced and Goto-Kakizaki diabetic rats.

Background/aims: The expression and localization of several distinct glucose transporters (GLUT1, GLUT2, GLUT4, and SGLT1) was recently characterized in the parotid gland of normal rats by quantitative real-time PCR analysis, immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. The major aims of the present study was to compare the mRNA expression of these glucose transporters in both the parotid gland and submaxillary gland of control rats, streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats and hereditarily diabetic Goto-Kakizaki rats.

Methods: Quantitative real-time PCR analysis was performed in the parotid and submaxillary salivary glands and, for purpose of comparison, also in the heart, kidney, liver, lung, muscle and pancreas from control animals and either streptozotocin-treated or Goto-Kakizaki rats.

Biodentine used as a pulp-capping agent in primary pig teeth.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess and compare, in primary pig teeth, the pulp response after a pulpotomy using either Biodentine (a new tricalcium-silicate cement), white mineral trioxide aggregate (WMTA), or formocresol (FC) and repeat the same after direct pulp capping using either Biodentine, WMTA, or calcium hydroxide.

Methods: A total of 180 primary teeth from 9 healthy 4-month-old female pigs were divided into 3 experimental periods (7, 28, and 90 days) for each material used for the pulpotomy and direct pulp capping treatments. Seven, 28, and 90 days later, the animals were euthanized and the specimens were prepared for histological examination and evaluation.

Glucose transport by acinar cells in rat parotid glands.

Background/aims: Salivary glucose is often considered as being from glandular origin. Little information is available, however, on the possible role of glucose transporters in the secretion of the hexose by salivary glands. The major aim of the present study was to investigate the expression and localization of several distinct glucose transporters in acinar cells of rat parotid glands.

Salivary glucose concentration and excretion in normal and diabetic subjects.

The present report aims mainly at a reevaluation of salivary glucose concentration and excretion in unstimulated and mechanically stimulated saliva in both normal and diabetic subjects. In normal subjects, a decrease in saliva glucose concentration, an increase in salivary flow, but an unchanged glucose excretion rate were recorded when comparing stimulated saliva to unstimulated saliva. In diabetic patients, an increase in salivary flow with unchanged salivary glucose concentration and glucose excretion rate were observed under the same experimental conditions.

Altered fatty acid pattern of phospholipids and triglycerides in the submandibular gland of omega3-depleted rats.

Alteration of the phospholipid (PL) and triglyceride (TG) fatty acid pattern was recently documented in several organs of rats depleted in long-chain polyunsaturated omega3 fatty acid (omega3 rats). This study extends such a knowledge to the submandibular gland. The total PL and TG content of the salivary gland was not different in control and omega3 rats.

Quantitative and qualitative alterations of intestinal mucins in BioBreeding rats.

In diabetes-prone BioBreeding rats, an enteropathy often precedes the onset of auto-immune insulitis. The present study draws attention to quantitative and qualitative alterations of intestinal mucins in this animal model of type 1 diabetes mellitus. Male and female diabetes-resistant (BBc) and diabetes-prone (BBdp) BioBreeding rats fed, from one to two weeks after weaning onwards, either a plant-based diabetes-promoting diet (NTP) or a hydrolysed casein diabetes-protective diet (HC), were sacrificed at 11-14 weeks of age.