[Relation between plaque index and gingival cell infiltrate in experimental animals]

The aim of this study was to determine the relation between plaque and gingival cell infiltrates in highly imbreaded laboratory rats during experimentally provoked gingivitis. In this experiment 24 Lewis rats, aged 1-3 months, were used. From the zero day of inflammation plaque was scored by Sillnes and Löe index, while the presence of gingival cell infiltrate was determined with the stereological method. The results point out that the elder animals manifested early plaque accumulation, while the young group of animals presented a more intensive gingival cell infiltration. On the basis of the obtained results it can be concluded that within the equal amounts of plaque the young animals had a more intensive gingival cell infiltration as the result of distincet defensive reaction to the presence of microbial antigens.