EFFECT OF 0.9% SODIUM CHLORIDE SOLUTION ON THE MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF HUMAN SALIVA CRYSTALLIZATION PATTERNS
Abstract
Background: The addition of isotonic sodium chloride (NaCl) solution to biological fluids alters their physicochemical properties and may modify crystallization patterns during dehydration. Objective: To evaluate the effect of 0.9% NaCl solution at varying volumetric ratios on the morphological characteristics of human saliva dehydration facies. Methods: Saliva-NaCl mixtures were prepared at four volume ratios (4:0, 3:1, 2:2, 1:3 µL saliva:NaCl) and pure 0.9% NaCl (0:4 µL). Droplets were dehydrated under standardized conditions (25 °C, 32% RH) and examined by digital microscopy. Zonal differentiation and the proportion of the organized zone relative to total droplet area were recorded. Results: Increasing the NaCl proportion was associated with a progressive increase in zonal organization ratio from 31.8±2.6% (pure saliva) to 86.8±1.1% (0.25 saliva:0.75 NaCl). Pure NaCl produced only cubic crystalline forms without zonal organization. Conclusions: The addition of 0.9% NaCl solution modifies saliva crystallization patterns in a dose-dependent manner, expanding the organized crystalline zone and altering crystal morphology, with implications for salivary diagnostic modeling.