The influence of diabetes on connective tissue components of gingiva was examined in the present study. Diabetes was induced by a single injection of alloxan monohydrate (80mg/kg, i.v.) in male white rabbits. Acid mucopolysaccharides (AMPS) and collagen contents and some of lysosomal enzyme activities of gingiva of diabetic rabbits were determined at different diabetic stage and these parameters were compared to those of gingiva of normal rabbits.
1) AMPS content was decreased slightly at 1 week of diabetic stage, but increased at 6 weeks stage and significantly increased at 12 weeks stage in diabetic group as compared to normal.
2) Salt soluble, acid soluble and insoluble collagen contents were decreased at all the stage in diabetic group as compared to normal.
3) Mucopolysaccharase (β-glucuronidase, N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase, β-glucosidase and β-galactosidase) activities were tendency to decrease at 3 and 6 weeks stage and acid protease activity was increased at 12 weeks stage in diabetic group as compared to normal.