Permeability of gingival sulcular epithelium in the development of scorbutic gingivitis.

Young adult nonhuman primates were initially fed an ascorbic-acid free diet and, subsequently, a diet with a suboptimal level of the vitamin. Following approximately 12 weeks of this dietary regime, five of seven experimental animals of the gingival sulcular epithelium to 3H-inulin, but not to 14C-butyric acid or 14C-urea, had increased significantly (+86%, P less than 0.01) in the experimental group as compared to ad libitum or pair-fed controls. This defect in the intercellular permeability barrier of the sulcular epithelium could have contributed to the pathogenesis of scorbutic gingivitis.