Effects of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy on Aquaporin Expression in the Salivary Glands : An In Vivo Study

Introduction : Saliva plays a vital role in maintaining oral function and health ; however, many patients experience decreased salivary secretion for various reasons. Therefore, developing methods to preserve or enhance salivary gland function is highly desirable. The present study aimed to examine the effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) on the expression of Aquaporin-1 and Aquaporin-5, key water channels in the salivary glands, specifically in the submandibular and parotid gland tissues. In addition, the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF-1α) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which are associated with aquaporin regulation, was also investigated.