Experimental gingivitis in ODU plaque-susceptible rats. II. Biochemical nature of the rat plaque.

The characterization of the dental plaque from ODU plaque-susceptible rats is reported. The comparison between the rat dental plaque and a human dental plaque indicates that content of extractable hexose and inorganic salts and amino acid composition are different from each other. Electron microscopic study indicates that bacterial flora of the rat dental plaque seems to be little different from a human dental plaque. In spite spite of obvious differences in biochemical nature between the rat dental plaque and the human dental plaque, there are enough similarities to warrant intensive investigation regarding the relationship between the dental plaque and gingivitis.