Abstract
Summary and conclusions
The finding that chondroitin sulfuric acid as well as hyaluronic acid is among the components of human gingival tissue(6), and the demonstration that microorganisms capable of breaking down this substance are present in the gingival crevice, has led to the belief that bacterial chondroitinase may be contributory to the structural breakdown of the gingival elements(4). Experiments here reported demonstrate that bacterial chondroitinase is capable of eliciting the spreading factor phenomenon in connective tissue in the same manner as bacterial and testicular hyaluronidase and may further emphasize the importance of polysaccharases in pathogenesis of periodontal disease.
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