LACTATE-DEHYDROGENASE ACTIVITY IN PERIODONTAL-LIGAMENT CELLS STORED IN DIFFERENT TRANSPORT MEDIA

Background, Maintaining viability of periodontal ligament cells is imp ortant after an avulsion injury occurs. Objective. This study examined cell death and compared different transport media at varying times. L actate dehydrogenase (LD) measurements were made on root surfaces of e xtracted teeth for evaluating the results of breakdown and necrosis of periodontal ligament cells. Study Design. Teeth were divided into thr ee groups. Each was immersed in one of the following storage media: Ha nks balanced salt solution, Custodiol solution (an organ storage mediu m), or sterile saline solution. LD measurements (an indicator of cell death) were made at 2, 6, 24, 72, and 168 hours after extraction. Resu lts. When the LD levels were compared according to the time periods, a progressive increase of cell death was found to be statistically sign ificant (p < 0.001). However, when the effects of both time periods an d the kind of storage medium on the LD levels were examined, the LD le vels of the saline solution storage medium were found to be significan tly higher (p < 0.001) than that of the other two groups. Conclusions, Both Hanks balanced salt Solution and Custodiol appeared to be suitab le transport media for maintaining cell viability, whereas saline solu tion was not.