Salivary secretions on mechanical stimulation with forced spitting method and on chemical stimulation with 10% citric acid and gastric acid secretions on maximal histamine stimulation were studied in 20 adults with tropical sprue and 20 adult control subjects. It was observed that the chemical method provided a better stimulus than the mechanical one in both groups. The salivary flow rates as well as salivary amylase, pH, sodium and potassium were similar in both groups. Tropical sprue patients, however, had significantly lower maximal acid output as compared to normals. It was concluded that, although tropical sprue patients are known to have widespread damage to alimentary tract mucosa, salivary glands do not seem to be involved.

SUMMARY Salivary flow rates on mechanical stimulation by forced spitting method and by chemical stimulation with 10 % citric acid and gastric acidity using an augmented histamine test were determined in 20 adult patients suffering from duodenal ulcer and in 20 adult control subjects matched with respect to age, sex, and body weight. Salivary flow rates were found to be much higher in response to chemical than to mechanical stimulus in both the groups. Duodenal ulcer patients exhibited an unexplained exaggerated response to chemical stimulation. Salivary pH, amylase, sodium, and potassium levels showed no significant differences between the two groups. The flow rates by either method generally showed a positive correlation with body weight in both the groups. Histamine stimulated gastric acid secretion was higher in duodenal ulcer patients than in controls. Acid secretion did not appear to be related to weight and also showed no consistent correlation with the salivary flow rates. It was concluded that (1) the salivary flow was dependent on body weight in duodenal ulcer patients as well as in controls, and (2) although salivary gland hyperplasia could be postulated in duodenal ulcer patients on the basis of increased salivary flow, the latter was poorly related to maximal acid secretion and therefore, if a combination of parietal cell and salivary gland hyperplasia did exist, it should be considered as incidental.