Carbonic Anhydrase in Dental Tissue and the Effects of Parathyroid Hormone and Fluoride on Its Activity

¹ Department of Pharmacology, Nippon Medical School, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan

Carbonic anhydrase activity was demonstrated by manometric measurement in the incisors as well as in the femurs of rats, but not in human permanent teeth.

Acetazolamide and sodium fluoride were about equipotent as inhibitors of dental carbonic anhydrase. They depressed dental carbonic anhydrase more intensely than alkaline phosphatase (determined spectrophotometrically). Parathyroidectomy caused a significant decrease in alkaline phosphatase activity in the bone and showed a similar tendency, though statistically not significant, in the incisors. The administration of parathyroid extract increased the activity noticeably.

The possible role played by both enzymes under the influence of the parathyroid gland in the calcification of the dental and bone tissues was discussed.