Biogenic amines in human gingiva in healthy and inflamed states

As inflammatory disturbance are of significance in every aspect of periodontal disease, it was deemed pertinent to conceive on experimental study exploring the existence and relationship of biogenic amines, at least in the inflammatory gingiva. Gingival samples from 50 human individuals representing varying grades of inflammatory involvement have been utilised in the present work. From the results of this study, it could be elucidated that biogenic amines (noradrenaline, dopamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine) should show elevated concentration in inflammatory states of the gingiva. Further, these amines turnover was confirmed by studying monoamine oxidase which is a catalyzing enzyme of noradrenaline and 5-hydroxytryptamine; and 5-hydroxy indole aceticacid is a metabolic end product of 5-hydroxytryptamine. This was of a transitory nature indicating increased levels at the early stages of inflammation followed by a decrease at the peak of the gingival inflammation. It is assumed that biogenic amines helps in regeneration of connective tissue of the oral mucosa during the initial development of inflammation rather than final stages of the process, thereby emphasizing its transitory role in the inflammatory process.