Emigration of blood neutrophils and monocytes into the gingival crevices

The migration of neutrophil polymorphonuclear leukocytes and monocytes into crevices of resting clinically healthy, and chronically inflamed gingivae has been studied in dogs. Cellular samples were obtained from crevices by the use of the “Styroflex” technique. Labelling of blood neutrophils and monocytes was performed with intravenously injected colloidal carbon. Samples were collected from the crevices at various time intervals after the labelling procedure. Labelled neutrophils and monocytes were found in the crevices of both healthy and chronically inflamed gingivae. The cells appeared to migrate at a higher rate into the inflamed crevices than into the healthy crevices. The monocytes seemed to migrate somewhat more slowly than the neutrophils.