Flow rate and inorganic components of submandibular saliva in cystic fibrosis

in Childhood, 48, 267. Flow rate and inorganic components of submandibular saliva in cystic fibrosis. The inorganic components of submandibular saliva were determined in 35 patients with cystic fibrosis and in 28 controls. No differences due to flow rate were apparent between the two groups. At comparable flow rates, cystic fibrosis submandibular saliva had higher concentrations of calcium, sodium, and chloride, and similar concentrations of magnesium, inorganic phosphate, potassium, copper, and zinc. The insoluble, turbid fraction of the cystic fibrosis submandibular saliva contained both calcium and phosphate, and these were precipi-tated in a ratio which was consistent with hydroxyapatite. The secretory granules are postulated as the source of the excess calcium in cystic fibrosis submandibular saliva. The calcium concentration of the turbid sub-mandibular saliva of cystic fibrosis (CF) subjects has consistently been found to be raised (Chernick, Barbero, and Parkins, 1961; Mandel et al., 1967, 1969; Wiesmann et al., 1968; Zipkin et al., 1970), but controversy still surrounds the flow rate-dependent sodium, chloride, and phosphate ion