Quantitative Determination of immunologlobuline (IgG, IgA and IgM) and identification of IgA‐type in the gingival fluid.

Quantitative immunoglobulin determinations were performed by a single radial imrmmo‐diffusion method with verified specificity and precision. The identification of sernm‐IgA or secretory‐IgA in gingival fluid was carried out in double diffusion in gel experiments with the use of a specific anti‐serum to “secretory piece”. Gingival fluid was collected with micropipettes by capillarity from subjects with different degrees of gingival inflammation. Blood and mixed saliva were sampled from each individual at the same time. In accordance with previous studies the gingival fluid occured after irritation of the gingival tissue. The amount of the gingival fluid increased with the severity of the inflammation. The contents of the different immumoglobulins in gingival fluid conformed to those, in serum. The possible reason of a slight tendency to lower contents of IgA and IgM in gingival fluid compared to those in serum in subjects with chronically inflamed gingivae is discussed. No “secretory piece” was demonstrated in any samples of gingival fluid tested at different dilutions. The immunoglobulin A in gingival fluid was indicated to be of serum‐IgA‐type. The origin of the immunoglobulins in gingival fluid is discussed.