Collagen metabolism in skin and periodontal membrane of the marmoset.

Abstract

Abstract— The purpose of the present work was to investigate possible age changes in the rate of collagen formation in the periodontal membrane and to compare the collagen activity in the periodontal membrane with that found in the skin. Twenty‐three marmosets (one baby, 14 young adults, and 8 old animals) were injected with 3H‐proline and sacrificed 2, 7, and 21 days after injection. Autoradiographs were made from the periodontal tissues and from skin biopsies. The latter were furthermore analyzed with respect to total 3H‐activity and specific hydroxyproline activity. In the periodontal membrane the grain counts were highest in the baby and higher in the young adult than in the old marmosets. The same pattern was observed in the skin. Here the grain counts were 8 times lower than in the periodontal membrane. Furthermore the autoradiographs revealed that the collagen activity in the gingival connective tissue was only half of that found in the periodontal membrane. It was concluded that the higher activity in the periodontal membrane was caused by a higher collagen concentration compared to gingival connective tissue and to skin.