Abstract
Gingival fluid is a very common clinical symptom of the periodontal disease. But its nature has not been fully understood. To obtain further knowledge concerning its function and biochemical characteristics, flow of gingival fluid and lactic acid in gingival fluid were quantitatively determined. Though relatively large deviation was observed, flow of fluid tended to increase with the enhancement of gingival inflammation. Lactic acid from clinically normal gingiva could not be determined quantitatively in most cases. But when gingival inflammation existed, lactic acid was demonstrated in all cases and tended to increase with gingival inflammation. The correlation between flow of fluid and lactic acid content was significant. But highest lactic acid concentration was observed in the gingival fluid from mildly inflamed gingiva. Lactic acid content in gingival tissue and its concentration of blood serum were also obtained. It was found that lactic acid concentration of blood serum influenced neither to that of gingival fluid nor to lactic acid content in gingival tissue. But statistically significant correlation was observed between lactic acid concentration in gingival fluid and its content in gingival tissue. It must be concluded that gngival fluid should be inflammatory exudate and the analysis on gingival fluid has a clinical diagnostic value.
