title: Aspartate aminotransferase increases in crevicular fluid during experimental periodontitis in beagle dogs.
abstract: A ligature-induced periodontitis model employing the beagle dog was used to study the levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in crevicular fluid before and after ligation. A significant increase in AST level occurred in crevicular fluid 2 weeks after ligation whereas no increase of enzyme was found in serum. Enzyme levels in crevicular fluid were 10- to 100-fold higher than in serum. Dental plaque did not appear to be the source of the enzyme. Since aspartate aminotransferase has been documented as a marker of cellular injury arising during heart disease and liver disease, this study suggests that aspartate aminotransferase, in like fashion, reflects cellular damage arising from active periodontal disease.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000201:enzymology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004285:Dogs; D005883:Gingival Crevicular Fluid / Q000201:enzymology*; D005891:Gingivitis / Q000201:enzymology*; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000209:etiology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases