FILM THICKNESS AS A LIMITING FACTOR ON THE ABILITY OF VARIOUS CHEMICALS TO INHIBIT GLYCOLYSIS IN SALIVARY SEDIMENT
R. S. MANLY PH.D.1
1 Department of Research, Tufts University, School of Dental Medicine, Boston, Mass.
Fifty-two chemicals, selected because of initial promise as glycolysis inhibitors, were tested for their inhibitory action on 3 different thicknesses of thin films of salivary sediment. Film thicknesses of 0.2, 0.5, and 0.9 mm. were prepared in contact with a glass electrode and supported by stiffened nylon mesh. After the pH drop had been measured in a control solution, the sediment was treated with a solution of the test chemical containing 20 per cent or less of propylene glycol as an accessory solvent. Next, the electrodes were transferred to the control solution for 1 hour to allow attainment of a new steady state. The percentage recovery was calculated from the ratio of the second to the first control pH differentials. The results were grouped according to the recoveries at 0.2 mm. thicknesses and averaged in 5 groups. Recovery was generally proportional to thickness. The most inhibitory group of chemicals were affected to the greatest extent by change in thickness. The groups of chemicals showing more than 40 per cent recovery on 0.2 mm. films possessed little or no inhibitory action when tested on 0.9 mm. films.
Submitted on January 17, 1958
