The content of arginine aminopeptidases, hexosamine, and uronic acid sugars in gingival exudate as affected by short term sugar diets

Abstract

The specific activity of arginine aminopeptidases (which are properly represented by aminopeptidase B) and the amount of hexosamines, uronic acids, serotonin and histamine was determined in gingival exudates obtained from persons kept for five days on various mild sugar diets (including sucrose, xylitol, fructose-xylitol, fructose-sorbitol, fructose-glucose, and sucrose-maltose). The sugars consumed during reduced oral hygiene did not differ as regards their ability to induce aminopeptidase B-activity. The enzyme activity towards N-L-arginyl-2-naphthylamine was somewhat higher in fructose-sorbitol, glucose-fructose, fructose-xylitol and xylitol groups than in the sucrose and sucrose-maltose groups. The sugars did not lead to any differences in the amount of uronic acids and hexosamines in the exudates. This concerned histamine and serotonin as well.