NORMAL HISTOLOGIC FEATURES OF DOMESTIC FERRET PERIODONTIUM

The normal histologic features of the periodontal tissues in 17 domest ic ferrets (10 male and 7 female) are described. The following teeth w ere histologically evaluated: canines, the maxillary third premolar (P 3), the mandibular fourth premolar (P4), the carnassial teeth (P4 in t he maxilla and the first molar, M1, in the mandible) and the next mola r after the carnassials (M1 in the maxilla and M12 in the mandible). A fter histologic preparation for light microscopy, the sections were an alyzed at magnifications of x 20 and x 100. The histometric measuremen ts performed were 1) distance between the cementoenamel junction (CEJ) and the alveolar bone crest, 2) distance between CEJ and the most cor onal connective tissue, 3) root length, 4) width of the periodontal li gament at three different locations along the root surface, and 5) cem entum layer thickness at the most apical portion bf the root. The numb er of sections exhibiting root resorption was counted. The results gav e the normal values of some common periodontal variables and suggested a possible future use of the domestic ferret as an alternative experi mental animal in periodontology.