Chloride Concentration in Parotid Fluid at Low Rates of Flow

Abstract
Parotid fluid was collected from 527 subjects under very minimal stimulation. At a mean flow rate of 0.042 ml/minute, the chloride mean was 24.78 mEq/l. The mean serum chloride concentration was 101.9 mEq/1. A significant (P<.01) negative correlation (r = .25) was found between flow rate and chloride concentration. The hypothesis is offered that chloride is both reabsorbed and secreted by the duct cells and that the parotid fluid chloride concentration appears to be dependent upon the movement of Na and K between the duct cells and the saliva.