Clinical and Materials Sciences The Effect of Skylab on the Chemical Composition of Saliva

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Abstract
The levels of specific proteins and electrolytes in stimulated whole saliva were monitored in Skylab crew members before and after each mission. With few exceptions, mission-associated compositional changes in saliva were relatively minimal. There were no changes in Ca++, K+, PO≡4, Cl-, albumin, or IgG concentrntions. There were slight decreases in total protein coinciding with moderate saliva flow rate increases iminediately before and after each flight. Other changes included diminutions in Na+ and lysozyme, and elevations in Mg++ and IgA. The IgA increase was the most pronounced mission-associated change observed.