Diphenylhydantoin induced gingival hyperplasia in ferrets: a precautionary note.

Diphenylhydantoin appears to modify the tissue response in ferrets to a gingival irritant. In the present study, ferrets were tested for the tissue response to a local irritant in their maxillary right quadrant, while their maxillary left quadrant was the control. A low incidence of hyperplasia was induced only in irritated gingival tissue of animals receiving DPH. The problems encountered in comparing the hyperplasia produced in ferrets and humans were also discussed.