[The effect of a high-saccharose diet on the enzymatic activity of the oral mucosa in rats].

Cathepsin D, acid phosphatase, beta-galactosidase, N-acetyl hexosaminidase, leucine aminopeptidase (LAP), lactate dehydrogenase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (g-6-PDH), and peroxidase activities were measured in the buccal mucosa of rats kept for 60 days on high-sucrose (68% of sucrose) caries-inducing diet. The findings evidence that this diet observed for 30 days results in a significant elevation of beta-galactosidase and LAP activities and in reduction of peroxidase level. After 60-day diet the examined parameters virtually did not differ from the reference characteristics (a control group kept on 68% starch diet), except elevated g-6-PDH and lowered peroxidase activities. Enzymic activity changes are adaptive and evidence changes in the metabolic processes in the buccal mucosa, that may eventuate in the development of periodontal diseases.