Aconitase and Fumarase Activity in Periodontal Tissues

¹ Department of Oral Hygiene, Osaka University Dental School, Osaka, Japan

A technique for measuring the enzyme activities of aconitase and fumarase in the gingiva and alveolar bone of normal guinea pigs has been described. Activity of both aconitase and fumarase in the heart, liver, kidney, adrenal gland, pancreas, and femur cortex was also determined as controls. In aconitase unit activity, the heart, kidney, and liver possessed high activity. The adrenal gland and pancreas yielded intermediate activity, while relatively low activity was detected in the gingiva. The alveolar bone as well as femur cortex exhibited remarkably low activity. Fumarase unit activity of the tissues, such as heart, liver, kidney, and adrenal gland, contained high activity. Pancreas and gingiva possessed middle activity, and the alveolar bone and femur cortex showed considerably lower values. Not all unit activity paralleled the specific activity. Fumarase activity was generally higher than aconitase activity in every tissue.