Browse by author
Lookup NU author(s): Dr Peter GallagherORCiD, Mel LeitchORCiD, Professor Hamish McAllister-WilliamsORCiD, Professor Allan Young
Full text for this publication is not currently held within this repository. Alternative links are provided below where available.
An increasing number of studies are utilizing saliva sampling as a method of assessing adrenal steroid secretion. Saliva samples have certain advantages over plasma, being non-invasive and easily collected. However, some methods of collection may compromise the accuracy of the assay, particularly those which employ aids to stimulate saliva production. We sought to compare the accuracy of cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) measurement by examining the association between plasma levels, saliva and saliva collected using a citric acid-treated salivette device. Twenty six healthy male volunteers were recruited for the study. To increase the range of steroid levels in the samples collected, half the subjects were pre-treated with hydrocortisone (20 mg, twice a day for 7 days) and half with placebo. Saliva samples were then collected from each subject using both a 'passive drool' method and a citric acid-treated salivette. A plasma sample was also collected. Cortisol and DHEA levels were measured by radioimmunoassay. For cortisol levels, both methods of saliva collection correlated highly with plasma levels and with each other (r > 0.85; R2 > 0.72 for all). For DHEA levels, only saliva samples collected using the unstimulated collection method correlated with plasma levels. DHEA collected using the salivette device did not correlate significantly with either plasma or the unstimulated saliva (r < -0.2;R 2 < 0.04). It is crucial that future studies are aware of these issues and are cognizant of the effects of the method of collection when examining steroid levels in saliva. © 2006 British Association for Psychopharmacology.
Author(s): Gallagher P, Leitch MM, Massey AE, McAllister-Williams RH, Young AH
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Journal of Psychopharmacology
Year: 2006
Volume: 20
Issue: 5
Pages: 643-649
ISSN (print): 0269-8811
ISSN (electronic): 1461-7285
Publisher: Sage Publications Ltd.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0269881106060585
DOI: 10.1177/0269881106060585
PubMed id: 16401657
Altmetrics provided by Altmetric
