Influence of sexual steroids on cell functions of PMNL in the gingival sulcus

Clinical experience confirms the influence of sexual steroids on the periodont under several clinical conditions. The mechanisms of the noticed effects are not all completely understood. In this paper, phagocytes from gingival crevice fluid of 39 patients with different forms of periodontitis and 18 healthy persons without periodontal disease were examined. Phagocytic activity was assessed in vitro. Simultaneously to phagocytic examination, 17 beta-estradiol or dienogest were added to the samples in different concentrations, in order to see whether a difference existed between phagocytosis in the presence or absence of sexual steroids. Phagocytosis was significantly reduced in patients with periodontitis. It was found that phagocytosis was raised significantly by 13% in the group with periodontal disease under the influence of 17 beta-estradiol. The administration of dienogest did not change the phagocytosis capacity significantly. In the healthy group, neither addition of 17 beta-estradiol nor addition of dienogest caused any difference.