Stress-related salivary proteins affect the production of volatile sulfur compounds by oral bacteria.

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether stress-related substances and sex hormones influence the growth and in vitro production of volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs) by Solobacterium moorei and Fusobacterium nucleatum.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Bacteria growth and VSCs production were evaluated in the presence of alpha-amylase, beta-defensin-2, mucin, estradiol, and progesterone. Growth was evaluated by colony counting, and the production of the VSCs hydrogen sulfide (H2 S) and methyl mercaptan (CH3 SH) was measured using the Oral Chroma™ instrument.

RESULTS

Mucin induced the production of H2 S by both bacteria, but had a slight inhibitory effect on CH3 SH production by F. nucleatum. It also increased the viability of F. nucleatum. Alpha-amylase increased H2 S production by S. moorei and CH3 SH production by F. nucleatum, but had no effect on H2 S production by F. nucleatum. No substance altered the viability of S. moorei. No effects of beta-defensin-2, estradiol, or progesterone were observed.

CONCLUSION

The salivary stress-related proteins mucin and alpha-amylase altered VSCs production by F. nucleatum and S. moorei, favoring H2 S production. These findings are a step toward understanding the relation between stress and increased amounts of H2 S.