Leucocyte respones in the gingival crevice of the diabetic rat

Leucocyte chemotactic activity and the response of neutorphils, monocytes and lymphocytes in the gingival sulcus to surgery (during wound healing) was assesse in normal and alloxan diabetic rats. Before survery, the sulcular washes of both groups contained similar mubers of cell. One day post‐sugery, the normal sulci showed a marked increase in leucocytes due primarily to the presence of large numbers of neutrophis. Rapidly there after the leucocyte count decreased and approximated time 0 levels. The diabetic sulcus showed a 50% less intense reponse 1 day after sugery and a slower return to preopertive levels. The altered leucocyted response in the diabetic sulcus could reflect impaired chemotiactic activity, which was observed for periotoneal leucocytes, or other cellular or tissue abnormlities (eg. thickened basement membranes) that impede cell migration. Alloxan diabtes provides another model to study the relationship between lecocyte dysfunction and accelerated periodontal breakdwon.