Quantitative significance of IgE-producing plasma cells and tissue distribution of mast cells in apical periodontitis.

A total of 30 dental periapical lesions were used for estimating the frequency of IgE-producing plasma cells by the unlabelled antibody peroxidase antiperoxidase method. Mast cells were detected in adjacent sections by the naphthol-AS-D-chloroacetate esterase technique. IgE-producing plasma cells were present in the central granulation tissue in 26 of the 30 specimens. The average ratio of IgE-containing plasma cells was 0.22% as related to all plasma cells. The central granulation tissue was devoid of mast cells, but numerous mast cells were found in the fibrous capsule of periapical lesions.