Measurements of human minor salivary gland secretions from different oral sites

Unstimulated secretions from labial (upper and lower), buccal, lingual and palatal minor glands were measured with a Periotron 6000 model 2 (Proflow) in 99 non-medicated, healthy individuals aged from 17 to 81 yr (49 males and 50 females). The palatal minor glands had the lowest flow rates, buccal and anterior lingual glands the highest, and labial glands (upper and lower) intermediate secretory rates. Lower labial glands (p < 0.01) in both sexes and upper labial glands in females (p < 0.05) demonstrated a significant decrease in unstimulated output with age, while buccal glands in both sexes (p < 0.05) showed a significant decrease in flow rates only after the age of 50 yr. Thus minor glands show regional variation in their secretory rates and labial and buccal glands appear to show a decreased unstimulated flow in older individuals.