The effect of stimulation of the mechano-and chemoreceptors of the oral cavity on carbohydrate metabolism

Summary

Experiments on 6 healthy young persons observed for 3 hours established that administration of 100 ml of a 4% glucose solution per os for one hour (chemical stimulation) caused no change in the levels of blood sugar and oxygen intake, as compared with controls. Neither did these indices change substantially after glass disks were sucked by the subjects for one hour (mechanical stimulation). However, when the two stimuli were applied simultaneously, the levels of the blood sugar and oxygen intake rose considerabley during the following three hours of observation. There appeared a sensation of sweetness which had been absent during drop administration of 4% glucose per os.

On the basis of this conclusion it was shown that stimulation, both of chemoreceptors and of mechanoreceptors in the oral cavity, plays a significant part in the act of sucking.