[Evaluation of the activity of leukocytes during experimental periodontitis in the monkey]

Polymorphonuclear leucocytes play an important role in the defense mechanisms and destruction of periodontal tissues. The leucocytes number and activity were compared during an induced periodontitis in 3 Cercopithecus cephus. On day 0, the 3 animals presented a localized marginal gingivitis. On 2 animals a severe marginal periodontitis was induced unilaterally: 42 days later leucocytes were sampled in the peripheral blood, in the gingival blood and in the gingival sulcus on the experimental and control sites as well as on the 2 hemijaws of the control animal. For each sample, a leucocyte count and a chemiluminescence test were done. Different results related to the disease severity were obtained with these tests for gingival blood and sulcular fluid.