Enzymatic Activities in the Incisor and Molar Regions of the Guinea Pig

¹ Department of Physiology, School of Denistry, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina

The activities of lactic, isocitric, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenases, the malic dehydrogenase (decarboxylating), and the glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase were studied in gingiva and periosteum from the incisor and molar regions of guinea pigs. The periodontal tissues of both regions showed high activity in the five enzymes studied. The activity of these enzymes was significantly higher in the periosteum of the incisor than in the molar region of these guinea pigs. No significant differences were found between the gingival samples of both regions. The greater rate of growth of the continuously growing incisors is suggested as a possible explanation for the differences in enzymatic activities in periosteum. The necessity of extending this comparative study to a greater number of enzymes is emphasized to enable judgment of the biological importance of these data.