Lipid Composition and Biosynthesis in the Gingiva of the Domestic Cat

Periodontal disease in the domestic cat may assume debilitating and serious consequences; however, little is known of the biochemical composition or metabolism of feline gingiva in health or disease. In this report the chemical composition and metabolism of gingival lipids from inflamed and non‐inflamed sites is presented and compared to other species with naturally occurring periodontitis. The neutral and phospholipid composition of feline gingiva was found to be distinct from that of porcine and human. As a measure of de novo lipid synthesis, the total incorporation of 14C‐acetate into fractionated lipid components was determined and revealed an approximate 2 to 3 fold decrease in inflamed versus non‐inflamed gingiva. The decrease in 14C‐acetate incorporation appeared to result from a 2‐fold increase in free acetate pools in inflamed compared to noninflamed gingival samples, since total lipase and phospholipase activity were comparable in inflamed and non‐inflamed gingiva and total lipid composition was not changed between inflamed and non‐inflamed sites. These data are similar to those reported for periodontally involved human gingival tissue and suggest a common effect of periodontal inflammation on lipid metabolism in both species. J Periodontol 1991; 62:495–498.