Changes in aminopeptidase activity in the palatal mucosa and gingiva of the rat following tooth extractions

Abstract

Abstract

This study was carried out in order to observe the changes in amino-peptidase activity which might occur in the palatal mucosa and gingiva of the rat in the initial phase of healing after tooth extractions. The material consisted of 115 male Sprague-Dawley rats. Amino-peptidase activity was studied at time intervals of 30 min., 1, 2, 4, 8, 16 hours and 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 days after the extractions. The azocoupling principle was used for the histochemical demonstration of enzyme activity. However, the incubation solution was in gel form. A semipermeable membrane was placed between the tissue sections and the incubation medium in order to prevent enzyme diffusion and dissolving of enzymes into the incubation medium. The substrates used were N-aminoacyl 2-naphthylamines of L-leucine and L-arginine. Histological investigations were carried out simultaneously with the histochemical study. The principal increase in aminopeptidase activity occurred relatively late after the tooth extractions. The most intense staining was observed in 4- to 7-day wounds. During the same period the most active fibroblastic proliferation was observed histologically. The changes were demonstrable using both of the substrates. However, the staining was more intense when N-L-leucyl-2-naphthylamine was used as the substrate. By using N-L-arginyl-2-naphthylamine as the substrate, chloride ions caused a marked increase in staining intensity. It was thus assumed that aminopeptidase B would also be activated during the healing.