A further note on the sampling device for the anti-mutagenicity of saliva

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVES</b>The purpose of this study was to compare the anti-mutagenicity of Salivette and test-tube sampling saliva. In addition, the relation between the inhibiting and pH-buffering capacities of saliva was investigated.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Subjects were 52 healthy female university students. The collection of saliva samples was carried out using 2 sampling devices; test-tube and Salivette. The anti-mutegenicity of the saliva was measured using the umu test.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The inhibiting capacity of Salivette-saliva was significantly lower compared with that of testube-saliva (p<0.01,t test). However, there was a significant correlation between them (r=0.35; p<0.05). In addition, there was a significant correlation between the inhibiting and pH-buffering capacities of saliva (r=-0.36; p<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>These findings suggest that both the Salivette and the test-tube may be appropriate as saliva-sampling devices. In addition, they suggest that the bicarbonates might inhibit the anti-mutagenicity of saliva, or that the activity of substances related to the anti-mutagenicity of saliva might be dependent on pH.</p>