ラット歯肉に接種した内毒素の動態と好中球機能に関する実験的研究

Endotoxin from the cell wall of gram negative bacteria plays an important role in periodontal disease as an initiative factor. The purpose of this investigation is to clarify the transport of endotoxin from gingiva to each organ, and the change of neutrophil function after endotoxin injection. After injection of endotoxin into the gingiva of rats, endotoxin concentration was determined by endospecy method in the extract from each organ, such as gingiva, submandibular lymph nodes, spleen and serum. Neutrophil number and the function was also examined including superoxide (O_2^-) production with cytochrome c reduction method, cytokine (IL-1, G-CSF) production and phagocytosis. The results were as follows, 1. Endotoxin spread appeared in gingival tissue at first and then in submandibular lymph nodes and partly appeared in spleen after injection into the gingiva of rats with endotoxin. 2. Endotoxin concentration of gingival extracts reached the highest value immediately, rapidly decreased, and reached the lowest value at 72 hours after endotoxin injection. The concentration of submandibular lymph nodes extracts reached a maximum at 2 hours, and that of spleen extracts and serum reached at 10 hours after endotoxin injection. 3. The number of neutrophil began to increase at 2 hours, and reached a maximum at 10 hours after endotoxin injection. 4. Endotoxin, by itself, did not stimulate O_2^- production from peripheral blood neutrophils, but it did enhance the stimulating effect of PMA on O_2^- production. 5. O_2^- production of neutrophil began to increase immediately and reached a maximum at 10 hours after endotoxin injection. 6. IL-1 concentration in ultrasoniated extracts of neutrophils began to increase immediately, and reached a maximum at 10 hours after endotoxin injection. 7. G-CSF activity in serum began to increase at 2 hours and reached a maximum at 10 hours after endotoxin injection. 8. No marked change was recognized in phagocytosis of neutrophils. Above results showed that a high correlation was found between endotoxin concentration of serum and O_2^- produced of neutrophils, was also found among the intensity of G-CSF activity in serum, the number of the blood neutrophil, and the concentration of IL-1 in neutrophils, respectively.