Electrolyte concentrations in saliva of the goat under various conditions

¹ Department of Surgery, Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles and University of Southern California School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California

The concentrations of sodium, potassium, and chloride in the saliva of the goat are reported for the first time. The parotid duct of several animals was cannulated with polyethylene tubing and a stable flow of saliva obtained for many weeks. Variations in the concentrations under normal living conditions (resting, ruminating, eating, and the like) are given. Certain additional conclusions appear significant. Partial obstruction of the parotid flow, minor infection of the gland, and the minor stress of strapping the animal to a table produces an immediate elevation of the chloride level with minimal alterations in the other electrolytes. The effect of major stress (abdominal operation) is a markedly lowered volume, greatly reduced concentrations of sodium and chloride, and strikingly elevated levels of potassium, over a period of several days. These alterations of function of the parotid secretions are an index of the basic metabolic changes accompanying major stress.