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Salivary secretion and seasickness susceptibility
C R Gordon1, Y Jackman, H Ben-Aryeh
1Motion Sickness and Human Performance Laboratory, Israel Naval Hyperbaric Institute, Haifa.
Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine
|May 1, 1992
Summary
Salivary amylase activity and protein secretion were higher in individuals prone to seasickness. These findings suggest salivary amylase may help evaluate susceptibility to motion sickness.
Area of Science:
- Physiology
- Biochemistry
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Seasickness susceptibility varies greatly among individuals.
- Salivary composition and function may be linked to autonomic nervous system activity.
- Previous research has not extensively explored salivary differences in seasickness-prone individuals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare salivary flow rate and composition between subjects with high and low seasickness susceptibility.
- To investigate potential correlations between salivary biomarkers and seasickness proneness.
Main Methods:
- Recruitment of 31 subjects at each extreme of the seasickness susceptibility scale.
- Collection and analysis of whole resting and stimulated saliva.
- Measurement of salivary flow rates, electrolyte concentrations, amylase activity, and total protein secretion.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in salivary flow rates or electrolyte concentrations were observed between groups.
- Significantly higher amylase activity and rate of secretion in resting saliva were found in the seasickness-susceptible group.
- Significantly higher total protein secretion rate in resting saliva was also noted in the susceptible group.
Conclusions:
- Elevated resting salivary amylase activity and protein secretion may indicate higher seasickness susceptibility.
- These salivary changes could be associated with increased sympathetic nervous system tone in susceptible individuals.
- Salivary amylase levels show potential as an additional biomarker for assessing seasickness susceptibility.