Scanning microfluorimetric measurements of redox status in the rat dento-alveolar tissues

The oxidative state of periodontal tissues in situ is not known. Scanning microfluorimetry uses NADH fluorescence readings to provide a measure of a tissue's oxidative metabolic activity. Digitally recorded fluorescence signals were compiled to create a distribution map for this reduced pyridine nucleotide in the periodontal structures, which was then related to the morphology as seen by SEM. To distinguish between NADH fluorescence and intrinsic fluorescence of collagen, as well as to study the effect of oxygen deprivation, mitochondrial oxidative activity was inhibited by CO in some animals. Oxidative status and sensitivity to changes in cellular energy metabolism in the dento-alveolar complex were tissue specific; differences between tissues may play a part in the differential remodelling of the periodontium.