Nitric oxide synthesis is decreased in periodontitis.
OBJECTIVE
In order to study the possible role of nitric oxide (NO) in the development of periodontitis, we measured the concentration of its stable metabolite nitrite (NO2-) in the saliva of patients with periodontitis and healthy subjects.


METHODS
We have analysed salivary NO2- concentrations in 25 subjects with rapidly progressive periodontitis (RPP), 25 with adult periodontitis (AP) and in 25 periodontally-healthy persons. The concentrations of NO2- were determined by the Griess reaction in microtitration plates. Periodontal tissue destruction was determined by measuring the attachment level loss using standard methods.


RESULTS
Subjects with periodontitis had significantly less NO2- in saliva than healthy subjects. Subjects with RPP had lower NO2- concentrations than those with AP Parotid gland saliva contained less NO2- than sublingual gland or total saliva.


CONCLUSIONS
Local NO production is decreased in patients with periodontitis. This effect is more pronounced in those with severe types of disease.
Aurer
A
A
Department of Periodontal Diseases, Dental School, University of Zagreb, Croatia. aurer@sfzg.hr
Aleksić
J
J
Ivić-Kardum
M
M
Aurer
J
J
Culo
F
F
D000328:Adult; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008832:Microchemistry; D008875:Middle Aged; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D009573:Nitrites / Q000378:metabolism; D010306:Parotid Gland / Q000378:metabolism; D017622:Periodontal Attachment Loss / Q000378:metabolism; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism*; D010519:Periodontium / Q000378:metabolism; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013361:Sublingual Gland / Q000378:metabolism; D017186:Titrimetry
D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D009573:Nitrites; D009569:Nitric Oxide