Human glandular salivas: their separate collection and analysis.

Human saliva is secreted by the three pairs of major salivary glands (parotid, submandibular, and sublingual), and numerous minor ones, e.g. labial, buccal and (glosso)palatine glands. Using individually adapted collection devices, sublingual, submandibular, parotid and palatine secretions of five individuals were collected and analyzed. Electrophoretic analysis revealed that each type of saliva possesses characteristic features, despite interindividual variations. Parotid salivas are characterized by intensely staining amylase and proline-rich protein bands, but contain minute amounts of cystatins, lysozyme and the extra-parotid glycoprotein. Sublingual salivas are characterized by high concentrations of both types of salivary mucins, MG1 and MG2, and contain relatively high levels of lysozyme. Submandibular salivas contain highest concentration of salivary cystatin S. Palatine secretions contain high molecular weight mucins and a relatively high amylase concentration.