Tag Archives: salivary glands
Antioxidant balance and dihydrogen sulfide content in the salivary glands of rats under conditions of immobilization stress and SO(2) donor administration
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1Department of Bioorganic and Biological Chemistry,
Poltava State Medical University, Poltava, Ukraine;
2Faculty of Dentistry, Poltava State Medical University, Poltava, Ukraine;
3Medical Faculty No 1, Poltava State Medical University, Poltava, Ukraine;
*e-mail: a.mykytenko@pdmu.edu.ua
Received: 15 April 2026; Revised: 14 May 2026;
Accepted: 29 May 2026; Available on-line: 18 June 2026
Background. Sulfur dioxide (SO2) is proposed as a novel gasotransmitter that is endogenously formed depending on the activity of aspartate aminotransferase, glutathione synthetase, and dihydrogen sulfide content. SO2 and its donors can potentially have a corrective effect in reducing oxidative stress-induced injuries under conditions of adaptation syndrome. Salivary glands are highly sensitive to stressors, but SO2 role in these organs under stress and general adaptation syndrome is largely unknown. Objective. The aim of our study was to determine the effect of the inorganic SO2 donor on the prooxidant-antioxidant balance and dihydrogen sulfide content in the salivary glands of rats under conditions of immobilization stress. Methods. Experiments were performed on 24 white male Wistar rats divided into groups: intact; injected intraperitoneally with SO2 donor Na2SO3/NaHSO3 (0.54 mmol/kg/0.18 mmol/kg) daily; immobilized on their backs for 1 h daily; injected intraperitoneally with Na2SO3/NaHSO3 daily 30 min before immobilization. Animals were withdrawn from the experiment on the 5th day, salivary glands were removed, homogenised, the supernatant was used for biochemical studies. Results. It was shown that the introduction of SO2 donor against the background of the general adaptation syndrome modeling led to a decrease in the blood plasma content of corticosterone, mitigation of lipid peroxidation and oxidative damage of proteins, cystathionine β-synthase and cystathionine γ-lyase activation and dihydrogen sulfide content restoration in the salivary glands. Conclusions. It was concluded that correction of stress-induced changes in the salivary glands of rats with sulfur dioxide led to the prevention of the development of oxidative stress and the restoration of dihydrogen sulfide production from cystathionine β-synthase and cystathionine γ-lyase and an increase in the activity of aspartate aminotransferase.
Isolation and characterization of collagenase-active preparation from Rapana venosa salivary glands
V. A. Toptikov*, Ye. A. Shesterenko, Yu. A. Shesterenko
Medical Biotechnology and Enzymology Laboratory, Department of Biomedicine,
A.V. Bogatsky Physico-Chemical Institute, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Odesa;
*e-mail: v.a.toptikov@gmail.com
Received: 02 July2025; Revised: 28 August 2025;
Accepted: 28 November 2025; Available on-line: 23 December 2025
Collagenases have found practical applications in both medicine and the food industry, but the search for novel collagenase sources remains an active area of studies. Rapana, a predatory mollusk that primarily feeds on bivalves rich in connective tissue, has emerged as a potential source of collagenolytic enzymes. This study aimed to isolate collagenase-active preparation from Rapana venosa salivary glands and characterize its properties. The salivary gland extract was purified by acetone precipitation followed by ammonium sulfate treatment. Electrophoresis was performed by the Laemmli protocol under both reducing and non-reducing conditions. Proteolytic activity was determined spectrophotometrically using collagen or gelatin as a substrate. The preparation consisted of five protein fractions and exhibited enzymatic polymorphism. A 13.8-fold purification of collagenase activity was achieved, at least 22% of total proteins displayed collagenolytic activity, while 88% showed gelatinolytic activity. The optimum of preparation activity was found in acidic (pH 4.5) and alkaline (-9.5) ranges, with thermal optimum at 46°C. At room temperature, about 90% of activity was maintained for 8 h. Serine protease inhibitors did not affect enzyme activity, metal ion chelators completely inhibited it. Reducing agents enhancing SH-groups increased enzyme activity, disulfide bond regeneration or SH-group modification decreased it. The data obtained showed that the collagenase-active enzyme preparation from Rapana venosa salivary glands consists mainly of metalloproteinases and cysteine proteases, exhibiting high stability.