Proteins in fluid from non‐keratinizing jaw cysts.

Abstract

Abstract. Fluid from 39 non‐keratinizing jaw cysts was examined for protein and nitrogen by chemical methods. Follicular cyst fluid showed significantly lower concentrations of protein than did autologous serum. No statistically significant differences were found between fluid from apical periodontal and residual cysts on the one hand and autologous serum on the other, or between the different types of cyst fluids. Three non‐odontogenic cyst fluids showed relatively lower quantities of protein than did most fluids from odontogenic cysts. Often cyst fluid exhibited higher ratios of nitrogen:total protein than did autologous serum. Scanning of cyst fluid cellulose acetate membrane electrophoretograms and the calculation of the protein content of the separated fractions revealed significantly higher amounts of γ‐globulins, but lower levels of albumin, α1 and α2‐globulins in cyst fluid than in autologous serum. The β‐globulin fraction approximated that of autologous serum. No statistically significant differences between electrophoretically separated protein fractions in fluid from apical periodontal, follicular and residual cysts could be established. A statistically significant negative correlation between γ‐globulins and other protein fractions in apical periodontal and in follicular cyst fluid was found. With the exception of the contents of the solitary bone cyst which may have been caused by diffusion of plasma proteins, the results indicate that fluid from non‐keratinizing jaw cysts was primarily an exudate, with subsequent admixture of nitrogenous substances other than proteins. Locally produced immuno‐globulins may contribute to the high γ‐globulin content of many cyst fluids.