Steroid hormones saliva

Steroids hormones in clinical chemistry Steroid analysis by LC-MS/MS in pediatrics— challenges in method specificity, sensitivity, and test results interpretation steroid assays and profiling in plasma, saliva, and urine by LC-MS/MS. [9]... 

Quisseli DO. Steroid hormone analysis in human saliva. Ann NY Acad Sci 1993 694 143-5. 

The composition, pH, and volume of salivary excretion for different salivary glands vary. Usually 1-2 L of saliva are secreted per day. Saliva is a hypotonic solution with a pH of about 7.0 principal cations are Na" and K+, and anions are Cl andHCOj. Aldosterone (a steroid hormone of the adrenal cortex) modulates Na+ and K levels in saliva as it does in the kidney (Chapter 32). Aldosterone increases reabsorption of Na+ and secretion of K+ by direct action on the salivary gland ducts. In hypoaldosteronism (e.g., Addison s disease), the salivary Na" /K+ ratio is high. 

The most important hormone secreted by the adrenal glands for salt balance is aldosterone. In the absence of this hormone, large quantities of sodium are excreted by the kidney and survival is only possible if a 0.9% NaCl solution is available in place of drinking water. Aldosterone, a steroid hormone acts on the kidney to cause sodium resorption in the distal convoluted tubule, partly in exchange for potassium. Increased sodium reabsorption raises the solute concentration of body fluids. Adrenal hormones in mammals also facilitate the resorption of sodium and chloride from sweat and saliva and also cause increased sodium resorption in the gut. Low sodium ion concentration triggers the secretion of aldosterone. But other body conditions like increased potassium concentration, decreased cardiac output and stress too can induce aldosterone secretion. 

Vining R, McGinley R. The measurement of hormones in saliva Possibilities and pitfalls. J Steroid Biochem 1987 27 81-94. 

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