The Relationship between the Sialic Acid Concentrations in the Serum and Whole Saliva in Rats with Naturally Occurring Gingivitis

Abstract

Pocket probing depth was correlated with the amount of salivary sialic acid in pilocarpine stimulated saliva in ODU plaque-susceptible rats (ODUS/Odu) (r=0.657, P<0.01), but not with the content of serum sialic acid. There was no difference in the amount of serum sialic acid content between ODUS/Odu and plaque-resistant rats. These results suggest that the amount of sialic acid in the saliva can be a useful index of the severity of periodontal disease.