Objective:
Passive smoking is the involuntary
inhalation of
cigarette smoke (CS) and has an adverse impact on
oral health. We examined the effect of CS exposure on
saliva and
salivary glands (SGs). Methods:
Cigarette smoke-exposed rats were intermittently housed in an animal chamber with whole-body exposure to CS until killed. Whole
saliva was collected before CS exposure (0 day), and 15 and 30 days after the start of CS exposure.
Saliva secretion was stimulated by administration of
isoproterenol and pilocarpine after
anesthesia. SGs were collected on 31 days. Results: The increase in
body weight of the CS-exposed rats was less than that of the control rats.
Salivary flow rates did not differ at 0, 15 or 30 days after the start of CS exposure. However, the
amylase and
peroxidase activities and total protein content in the
saliva were significantly lower in 15-day CS-exposed rats than in 15-day control rats.
Histological examination of the SGs of CS-exposed rats showed
vacuolar degeneration,
vasodilation and
hyperemia. Conclusion: These results suggest that CS exposure has adverse impacts on
salivary composition and SGs, which could aggravate the oral environment.
