A study for role of the feeding center in submandibular and sublingual salivary secretion

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25462887
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Functional basic dentistry
• Research Institution: Okayama University
• Principal Investigator: Mitoh Yoshihiro 岡山大学, 医歯(薬)学総合研究科, 助教 (20240872)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): MATSUO RYUJI 岡山大学, 大学院医歯薬学総合研究科, 教授 (30157268) ; KOBASHI MOTOI 岡山大学, 大学院医歯薬学総合研究科, 準教授 (80161967) ; FUJITA MASAKO 岡山大学, 大学院医歯薬学総合研究科, 助手 (40156881)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 上唾液核 / 摂食中枢 / オレキシン / メラニン凝集ホルモン

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Using free-moving rats, we examined the salivation when rats were provided with diets with various water contents. In sham-operated rats, salivation was decreased with increase of water contents in diets (powder > hard pellet > hard mash > medium mash > soft mash). Lesions of feeding center largely reduced the salivation although the tendency for salivary volume was maintained. In the superior salivatory nucleus (SSN) neurons which is the primary parasympathetic center of the submandibular and sublingual salivary glands in rats, effects of orexins and melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH), which were a feeding stimulator that were specifically produced in the lateral hypothalamic area (feeding center). SSN neurons were excited by orexins via orexin receptor 1 and 2 with decrease of potassium conductance, but not MCH. Excitation of SSN neurons via orexin may be involved in abundant salivation in feeding.

Free Research Field

口腔生理学