Odontogenic cyst growth and prostaglandin-induced bone resorption.

Forty-six odontogenic cysts produced significant quantities of bone-resorbing prostaglandins (PGs) in tissue culture. The follicular and periapical cysts released a mixture of PGEs and PGFs, while the keratocysts released only PGE2. There were also quantitative differences between the cyst types. Follicular cysts produced small quantities, as did keratocysts when allowance was made for their thin walls, whereas periodontal cysts are capable of relatively high activity. This prostaglandin activity can be related to the clinical behaviour of these lesions.