The effect of formocresol and glutaraldehyde on certain enzymes in bovine dental pulp

The effect of a 2-hour formocresol and glutaraldehyde treatment on two enzymes of bovine pulp was measured. Lactic dehydrogenase, a respiratory enzyme, was sharply affected by 0.5 percent and one percent glutaraldehyde and a 1:5 dilution of formocresol, exhibiting 7-, 71-, and 40-fold decreases in activity, respectively. Alkaline phosphatase was much less responsive to these same agents, giving only 4.5-, 17-, and 2.5-fold reductions after treatment, respectively. These findings support histochemical studies which have suggested the sensitivity of respiratory enzymes of the pulp to fixative medicaments.