Effect of gustatory stimulation on flow rate and protein content of human parotid saliva according to the side of preferential mastication

Unstimulated and citric acid-stimulated parotid saliva from the left- and right-hand sides of 20 females, was collected separately to compare the corresponding flow rates, total protein and electrophoretic protein profiles. Individuals having the left-hand side as the preferential side of mastication presented significantly greater flow rates for the ipsilateral glands than for the contralateral ones. Although the data suggested that the left-hand side average protein concentrations were greater for the group with the right-hand side of preferential mastication, the results were not statistically significant. Some minor differences in electrophoretic protein profiles were detected by scanning densitometry.