Associations between xerostomia, histopathological alterations, and autonomic innervation of labial salivary glands in men in late midlife.

•Xerostomia was not significantly related to degeneration of labial salivary glands.•A negative correlation between xerostomia and glandular innervation was found.•Acinar atrophy was negatively correlated to the parenchymal innervation.•Salivary gland structural and functional aspects may depend on intact innervation.