Alkaline phosphatase activity in normal and inflamed dental pulps

Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) seems to be important in the formation of minera lized tissues. High levels of ALP have been demonstrated in dental pulp cel ls. In the present study ALP activity was analyzed in normal healthy human dental pulps, in reversible pulpitis, and in irreversible pulpitis. Enzymat ic ALP control values for the normal healthy pulps were 110.96 +/- 20.93. I n the reversible pulpitis specimens the ALP activity increased almost eight times to 853.6 +/- 148.27. In the irreversible pulpitis specimens the valu es decreased sharply to 137.15 +/- 21.28 and were roughly equivalent to tho se seen in normal healthy pulps. The differences between the groups (contro l vs. reversible pulpitis and reversible pulpitis vs. irreversible pulpitis ) were statistically significant. These results could point to a role of AL P in the initial pulp response after injury.