Collagenolytic Activity of Crevicular Fluid from Pericoronal Gingival Flaps

Abstract
Collagenolytic activity was seen in fluids from the mandibular pericoronal gingival flap. Based on the response of this activity to sodium thiocyanate, and on the disc gel electrophoretic pattern of the collagen breakdown products, the collagenase appeared to be of tissue rather than of bacterial origin. Moreover, this activity seemed to parallel the collagenase activity and the breakdown of collagen in the adjacent gingival tissue, and thus, may be of diagnostic importance.