中文摘要：

唾液对于维持摄食、消化、味觉、语言和保护口腔黏膜等口腔及消化道正常功能具有非常重要的作用。在静息状态下,下颌下腺的分泌量占全唾液量的60%~65%。全身性疾病如舍格伦综合征（Sjgren’s syndrome）或局部疾病,如慢性下颌下腺炎症和下颌下腺失神经损伤,以及某些治疗后的并发症如头颈部肿瘤行放射治疗等,可导致腺体的分泌功能受损,唾液的分泌量降低,影响进食和吞咽等功能，严重者继发猖獗龋和念珠菌感染等并发症，严重影响患者的生活质量，因此，寻找有效的干预下颌下腺分泌的靶点，对防治下颌下腺功能低下具有重要的理论意义和临床应用价值。

英文摘要：

SUMMARY Our work focused on the studies on the expression and function of transient receptor potential vanilloid subtype 1（ TRPV1） in the submandibular gland. By using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction（ RT-PCR）, Western blotting, and immunofluorescence, our data demonstrated the expression and distribution characteristics of TRPV1 in rabbit and human submandibular glands,as well as rat submandibular gland cell line SMG-C6. Furthermore,the possible intracellular signal molecules involved in the TRPV1-modulated saliva secretion were explored. Activation of TRPV1 increased the intracellular Ca2 ＋concentration,upregulated the expression of aquaporin 5（ AQP5）,the main transporter that mediate water secretion through transcellular pathway,and led to AQP5 redistribution. Extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 /2（ ERK1 /2） was involved in the TRPV1-regulated AQP5 content.Besides,TRPV1 activation also modulated the expression,distribution,and function of tight junction protein,and increased paracellular permeability. ERK1 /2 and myosin light chain 2（ MLC2） were responsible for the regulation of TRPV1 on tight junction properties. Taken together,our work suggested that TRPV1 was a potential target to promote saliva secretion,and activation of TRPV1 might provide a new and safe therapeutic strategy to ameliorate submandibular gland hypofunction.