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FACTORS INFLUENCING THE SECRETION OF NITROGEN IN SHEEP SALIVA
Author(s) -
Somers M
Publication year - 1961
Publication title -
australian journal of experimental biology and medical science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.999
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1440-1711
pISSN - 0004-945X
DOI - 10.1038/icb.1961.11
Subject(s) - saliva , nitrogen , parotid gland , chemistry , urea , secretion , stimulation , zoology , endocrinology , medicine , biochemistry , biology , dentistry , organic chemistry
SUMMARY Measurements were made on the distribution of nitrogen in the mixed and parotid salivary secretion of sheep and on the amount of nitrogen secreted daily in the parotid saliva. The distribution of nitrogen in the mixed saliva followed the same pattern as that in the parotid secretions obtained when the glands were in a quiescent state. The concentration of nitrogen in both fluids depended on the rate of secretion. Although the concentration of total nitrogen in the mixed and parotid saliva increased during short‐term stimulation, the pattern of nitrogen distribution was not affected. During prolonged stimulation of the parotid glands the nitrogen composition of the saliva changed. Quantitatively, urea was the most important nitrogen compound in both the mixed and parotid saliva, accounting for 60–70 p.c. of the total nitrogen. The average volume of saliva secreted daily by one parotid gland was 2380 ± 43·8 ml. and the average total nitrogen content was 295·5 ± 5·77 mg. when the nitrogen intake was 14·8 gm. per day. Some implications of the amount and nature of the nitrogen compounds in relation to the ruminal metabolism of nitrogen in sheep are discussed.