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The effect of decomplementation by carragheenan on experimental initial gingivitis in hyperimmune dogs
Author(s) -
Kahnberg K.E.,
Lindhe J.,
Attström R.
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
journal of periodontal research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.31
H-Index - 83
eISSN - 1600-0765
pISSN - 0022-3484
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0765.1977.tb00145.x
Subject(s) - beagle , gingivitis , medicine , pathology , dental plaque , dentistry
The present study was undertaken to determine the effect of decomplementation on cel lular and vascular reactions in normal dog gingiva subjected to topical application of a plaque extract against which the animals had been made hyperimmune. Six Beagle dogs were used. Depletion of serum complement was performed with intravenous and intra‐peritoneal injections of Carragheenan. Plaque extracts were applied before the start of immunization, after immunization and when the dogs were immunized but decomplemented. Colloidal carbon was injected after 6½ hours of plaque extract application. Biopsies of gingival tissue were obtained after 8 hours. Semithin sections were analyzed to assess (1) the number of vascular units with carbon retention (2) the leukocyte content of the junctional epithelium (LEje). The histologic examination showed that an extract from human dental plaque contains substances which, when applied to the marginal gingiva of dogs, mediate the attraction of neutrophils and an alteration in the permeability of the dento‐gingival vasculature. Dogs immunized to the plaque extract reacted to local application of the extract by enhanced cellular and vascular alterations compared to those in non‐immunized dogs. In immunized but decomplemented dogs the cellular and vascular reactions following plaque extract application were markedly reduced.