Effects of diphenylhydantoin on teeth in rabbit.

The drug diphenylhydantoin (DPH) is well known to affect the gingiva of humans. Among other known unwanted effects is that on calcified tissues. The initial purpose of our study was to examine the effect of chronic administration of DPH on the continuously erupting incisors of the rabbit.

Immune response to keyhole limpet hemocyanin and oral Actinomyces viscosus antigens in Macaca arctoides.

The humoral and cell-mediated immune response to keyhole limpet hemocyanin and antigens from a monkey oral strain of Actinomyces viscosus were investigated in Macaca arctoides. Prior to immunization no responses were detected. Immunization resulted in the production of antibodies to both antigen preparations, the development of a positive skin test and significant stimulation of peripheral blood lymphocytes using the in vitro lymphocyte blastogenesis technique.

Interaction of macrophages and lymphocytes in rat skin allografts.

Light microscopy of 2 microgram sections of rejecting rat skin allografts, embedded in hydroxyethyl methacrylate, revealed among the cells infiltrating the graft base extravascular macrophages containing a small lymphocyte. Toluidine blue staining indicated DNA degradation in some of these phagocytosed lymphocytes. More frequently small lymphocytes were in intimate contact with the surface of the macrophages, resembling "Periopolesis', which others have previously observed in vitro.

Dental root abnormalities and gingival overgrowth in epileptic patients receiving anticonvulsant therapy.

Forty-six mentally retarded epileptic patients being treated with phenytoin and phenobarbital were studied to determine the root/crown length ratios. Forty-five mentally retarded patients not receiving anticonvulsant drugs provided the controls. Further, because serum phenytoin levels have been related to severity of gingival hyperplasia, efforts were made to determine if the hyperplasia was associated with dental root abnormalities and also whether these abnormalities could be related to epilepsy per se.