2003 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary

Research project for standardization of determination of neurotransmitter in saliva

Research Project

Project/Area Number	13672425
Research Category	Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
Allocation Type	Single-year Grants
Section	一般
Research Field	Laboratory medicine
Research Institution	Tottori University
Principal Investigator	SHIMOMURA Tokio TOTTORI UNIVERSITY, MEDICINE, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, 医学部, 助教授 (00216136)
Project Period (FY)	2001 – 2003
Keywords	saliva / neurotransmitter / stress / relaxation / serotonin / HPLC / 高速液体クロマトグラフィー / うつ症状
Research Abstract	We investigated the alteration of neurotransmitters in saliva before and after spa bathing. Forty healthy volunteers attended the investigation. Saliva samples were collected using Salibette (Sarstedt Co.Ltd.,Germany). Neurotransmitters, serotonin (5-HT) and 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid (5-HIAA), were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection (HPLC-ECD). We concluded the baseline levels of neurotransmitters in saliva as follows ; 5-HT : 2.0-9.0ng/ml, 5-HIAA : 6.0-40.0ng/ml. After spa bathing, 5HT and 5-HIAA levels in saliva were significantly higher than before. The increase of 5-HT and 5-HIAA levels in saliva after spa bathing might reflect the relaxation using spa bathing, and alteration of neurotransmitter in central nervous system. Further study must be need to determine more exact levels of neurotransmitters in saliva.