[Histochemical investigation on glycogen in the epithelium of mucosa under denture base]

Accumulation of glycogen in the epithelium of the oral mucosa was evaluated in relation to the existence of wound and inflammation of the oral mucosa histochemically and histopathologically. Antemolar rhombus (the anterior part of the intermolar palate) of adult Wistar rat was employed as experimental area. Experimental wound of palatal mucosa was made by excision of crestal one third of the palatine ruga. Inflammation of the connective tissue was artificially induced by the insertion of silk thread or silk thread immersed in 5% formalin in the connective tissue parallel to the crest line of palatine ruga. The experimental area was examined histochemically and histopathologically up to 72 hours after experimental operation. In excision wound the accumulation of glycogen was observed in prickle cell layer of the epithelium after 24 hours. Although the inflammatory reaction was observed more prominently in the thread inserted connective tissue, the accumulation of glycogen in the epithelium could not be detected. The findings of this study suggested that inflammation itself does not induce the accumulation of glycogen in the epithelium of the oral mucosa and the accumulation could be an indication of wound and/or its healing process of oral epithelium.