Journal of Dental Research, Vol 70, 984-987, Copyright © 1991 by International & American Associations for Dental Research Online Journals
Association of gingival crevicular fluid aspartate aminotransferase levels with histopathology during ligature-induced periodontitis in the beagle dog
R. L. Cohen, M. E. Alves, J. M. Crawford, T. McSwiggin and D. A. Chambers
Center for Research in Periodontal Diseases and Oral Molecular Biology, University of Illinois, Chicago 60612.
Previous investigations have shown a clear association between the presence
of the enzyme aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in gingival crevicular fluid
(GCF) and clinical evidence of periodontal disease in humans, as well as in
the beagle dog model. This paper describes a 26-week study that uses the
beagle dog model of ligature-induced periodontitis in which GCF-AST
(corrected for collection time) was correlated with microscopic evidence of
tissue destruction in the periodontium at the sites of fluid collection.
GCF and clinical data were collected at baseline, at optimal gingival
health, during gingivitis, and after ligation. A cross-mouth design was
implemented so that six premolar teeth in each dog were ligated for periods
up to five weeks. Formalin-fixed tissues from the sites of GCF collection
were prepared for light microscopy and evaluated for the presence of
epithelial ulceration, bone resorption, and inflammatory cell infiltration.
The relationship between GCF-AST levels and microscopic findings was
analyzed by calculation of sensitivity and specificity and by plots of
Receiver Operating Characteristics. These data revealed a correlation
between elevated enzyme concentration and microscopic evidence of disease
activity. Taken together with human studies, these results provide support
for the use of AST as a marker of periodontal disease progression.
