Effect of marginal ascorbic acid deficiency on saliva level of cortisol in the guinea pig

Male guinea pigs subjected to prolonged marginal ascorbic acid deficiency developed moon facies and oedema, features of functional adrenal hypercorticism. Compared with age- and sex-matched controls fed an adequate diet for a similar period, ascorbate deficiency had no effect on submandibular gland weight but elicited a significant (p < 0.005) reduction in stimulated whole-saliva flow rate. Plasma cortisol concentration (nmol/L) was significantly increased (p < 0.005) in the deficient animals (998.21 +/- 57.19 compared to 254.66 +/- 15.62 for the controls). Associated with marked hypercortisolaemia in the deficient animals was a significant (p < 0.01) but less prominent increase in the whole-saliva cortisol level, resulting in a mean saliva/plasma cortisol ratio of 46% for this group compared to 72% for the controls. Increased corticosteroid levels suppress immunological and inflammatory responses, particularly neutrophil function, impair production of some cytokines, inhibit collagen synthesis, and impair wound healing and bone matrix formation. Numerous conditions such as ageing, stress, smoking, ionizing radiation, ingestion of drugs, protein malnutrition, diabetes, and several other pathological states, which are among the risk factors for xerostomia and periodontal/oral mucosal lesions, promote tissue depletion of ascorbate. This study suggests that increased salivary and blood levels of glucocorticoids in these conditions may be important in reducing the ability of the host to mount an effective immune response to oral pathogens.