Summary
The effects of acute hypoxia (2 days at 4350 m) on whole saliva flow and composition were studied on 12 sea-level natives, at rest and following a maximal exercise. Exercise, performed in normoxia and hypoxia, did not induce variations in saliva flow rate, saliva potassium or α-amylase concentrations. In contrast, acute hypoxia did lead to an increase in mean saliva flow rate both at rest (0.63 ml·min−1 to 0.93 ml·min−1,P<0.01) and after exercise (0.56 ml·min−1 to 1.06 ml·min−1,P<0.05) and a decrease in mean saliva potassium concentration at rest (20.8 mmol·1−1 to 14.7 mmol·1−1,P<0.01) as well as after exercise (21.7 mmol·1−1 to 16.5 mmol·1−1,P<0.05). This effect might be the consequence of a hypoxia-induced stimulation of the parasympathetic nervous system.
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Pilardeau, P., Richalet, J.P., Bouissou, P. et al. Saliva flow and composition in humans exposed to acute altitude hypoxia. Europ. J. Appl. Physiol. 59, 450–453 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02388627
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02388627