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

ABSTRACT

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.