Fig. 1.

Time course of saliva volume before and after the topical or oral pilocarpine administration to rats. Circles, squares, triangles, and open rhombuses represent SSG, SBN, PO, and NT groups, respectively (n = 6 per group). Each point represents mean ± standard deviation. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, and ***p < 0.001 for each point versus before application in the SSG group. †p < 0.05, ††p < 0.01, and †††p < 0.001 for each point versus before administration in the PO group. NT, non-treated; PO, pilocarpine administered orally; SBN, pilocarpine ointment applied to the skin on the back of the neck; SSG, pilocarpine ointment applied to the skin over the salivary glands