Research Paper Volume 12, Issue 21 pp 21376—21390
The mechanism of submandibular gland dysfunction after menopause may be associated with the ferroptosis
Figure 8. Mechanism of postmenopausal xerostomia. After menopause, lipid ROS production increased due to increased lipogenesis and lipid peroxidation, resulting in ferroptosis and fibrosis and inflammation of submandibular gland. As a result, the function of the submandibular gland is reduced, resulting in xerostomia.