Effect of periodontal disease ("broken mouth") on the distribution of matrix macromolecules in the sheep periodontium.

A topographical, biochemical analysis of the soft connective tissues of sheep periodontia diagnosed clinically as showing periodontitis was carried out and compared with healthy periodontal tissue. Protein content was mapped on a site-to-site basis and compared with the distribution of collagen for both healthy and diseased tissue using amino acid analysis. Diseased tissue was more biochemically homogeneous than corresponding healthy tissue. Protein content per cent was in general greater but collagen content was greatly reduced. Tissue adjacent to radicular cementum appeared to be most markedly affected by the disease process. The apparent selective loss of non-proteinaceous components along with loss of collagen attachment may explain the direction in which periodontal disease is propagated through the tissue.