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Nitric oxide signalling in salivary glands
Author(s) -
Looms Dagnia,
Tritsaris Katerina,
Pedersen Anne Marie,
Nauntofte Birgitte,
Dissing Steen
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
journal of oral pathology and medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.887
H-Index - 83
eISSN - 1600-0714
pISSN - 0904-2512
DOI - 10.1034/j.1600-0714.2002.00047.x
Subject(s) - nitric oxide , endogeny , intracellular , secretion , microbiology and biotechnology , homeostasis , extracellular , stimulation , pathogenesis , salivary gland , biology , receptor , immunology , neuroscience , endocrinology , biochemistry
Nitric oxide (NO) plays multiple roles in both intracellular and extracellular signalling mechanisms with implications for health and disease. This review focuses on the role of NO signalling in salivary secretion. Attention will be paid primarily to endogenous NO production in acinar cells resulting from specific receptor stimulation and to NO‐regulated Ca 2+ homeostasis. Due to the fact that NO readily crosses membranes by simple diffusion, endogenous NO may play a physiological role in processes as diverse as modifying the secretory output, controlling blood supply to the gland, modulating transmitter output from nerve endings, participating in the host defence barrier, and affecting growth and differentiation of surrounding tissue. Furthermore, the role of NO in the pathogenesis of human oral diseases will be considered.