Psychoneuroendocrinology
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Psychoneuroendocrinology · Jan 2006
Randomized Controlled TrialSalivary alpha amylase as marker for adrenergic activity during stress: effect of betablockade.
Free salivary cortisol is an established non-invasive marker of hypothalamus pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis activity. In contrast, such a well-characterized salivary marker for activity of the sympatho-adrenal medullar (SAM) system is still missing. As one potential candidate salivary alpha amylase (sAA) has been suggested. ⋯ During the scanning procedure, in which participants were confronted with highly negative emotional pictures, the significant increase in sAA levels in the PL group compared to the BB group persisted. No additional change was noticed in heart rate or blood pressure during scanning in the PL or BB group. The current pharmacological study in the human provides direct evidence for the sensitivity of sAA to changes in adrenergic activation, specifically in reaction to psychological stress.