Plasma cells and their immunoglobulins in the normal and delayed healing of the extraction wound in man.

Eight volunteer patients underwent simultaneous extraction of two diseased teeth, the sockets of which were histologically and immunohistochemically evaluated one and two weeks later with special reference to the plasma cells and their intracytoplasmic immunoglobulins, respectively. One of the sockets was allowed to heal spontaneously, the other was packed with Alvogyl (Septodont, 1974) known to induce delayed healing of extraction wounds. A small and constant number of plasma cells was found to be present in the wounds, and this number was not affected by the Alvogyl packing or the stage of wound healing process. Immunoglobulins IgA, IgG and IgM were demonstrated in the plasma cells in proportions characteristic to the plasma cells of oral mucous membranes in general, thus supporting the concept that plasma cell activity in the extraction wound is evoked also by the continuous presentation of the diversity of oral antigens, and not an essential component of the wound healing per se.