OBJECTIVES: To investigate the normal range and characteristics of saliva secretion in the minor salivary glands (MSGs). DESIGN: The flow rates of MSGs were measured in 4 anatomical locations of oral mucosa, and the relationship between @entity5542 flow rates and whole saliva flow rates were assessed in 300 healthy subjects stratified by age and sex. An additional 30 young females were further evaluated for flow symmetry, effects of stimulation, circadian effects in MSGs, and the relationship with the flow rates of major salivary glands. RESULTS: (1) The mean saliva flow rates were 2.10    0.66 (lower labial glands), 2.14    0.62 (upper labial glands), 2.88    0.72 (buccal glands) and 2.15    0.51 (palatal glands)  l/min/cm(2), respectively. The flow rate of buccal glands was significantly higher than the rates of SMGs in other locations (P < 0.01). (2) 5-year-old @entity1 had the lowest @entity5542 flow rates (P < 0.0001) while the 10-14-year-old group had the highest (P < 0.001). (3) @entity5542 flow rates were independent of sex (P > 0.05), right vs. left (P > 0.05), and @entity1792 (2.5%) stimulation (P > 0.05). (4) Only labial @entity5542 displayed a significant secretory circadian rhythm with the highest rate in the evening (P < 0.05). (5) A weak correlation was found between the flow rate of palatal glands and that of unstimulated whole saliva (r = 0.195, P = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings provide a reference for functional evaluation of MSGs and for donor site selection of @entity5542 transplantation for treatment of severe @entity936 .

Characteristics of the saliva flow rates of minor salivary glands in healthy XXXX .

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['children'] @entity5542 :: ('CHEBI:64243', 'Chemical') :: ['MSG'] @entity1792 :: ('MESH:D019343', 'Chemical') :: ['citric acid'] @entity936 :: ('MESH:D015352', 'Disease') :: ['dry eye syndrome']
@entity1 :: (9606,Species) :: ['people']
