Sialoadenectomy significantly decreases salivary VEGF levels. To quantify salivary VEGF pre- and post-sialoadenectomy, VEGF protein levels are measured by obtaining saliva after pilocarpine treatment. The levels of VEGF are normalized to the total protein. VEGF levels significantly decrease in sialoadenectomized mice at day 5 post-SMG removal, compared with pre- and sham-operated mice. The bars represent average ± SEM, n = 5, p-values by ANOVA. SMG, submandibular gland; VEGF, vascular endothelial growth factor.