Identification of a Proteolytic Enzyme of the Periodontal Pocket

Abstract

Material from a periodontal pocket in 69 subjects and 9 control tubes were cultivated anaerobically for 21 days at 37[degree]C to indicate the presence of collagenase activity. The fluid media consisting of horse serum, rat kidney and dist. water contained a piece of collagen paper as a substratum. The controls were negative except for 1 tube which showed lysis following contamination. In the exptl. tubes, the collagen showed complete lysis in 22% of the cases, and partial lysis in 15%. A gross examination of the kidney showed complete lysis, 11%, partial lysis in 29%. This preliminary data indicate that collagenase activity is demonstrable in material cultivated from periodontal pockets. The source of the enzyme or enzymes involved has not been detd.