Methods: Twenty-four pulp samples were collected from healthy donors , non-medicated for two weeks with analgesic or antibiotics and stored in PBS solution in -70 freeze before experimental procedures. ALP activity was analyzed in normal healthy pulp (n=8, mean age <30), reversible pulpitis (n=8, mean age <30) and irreversible (acute) pulpitis (n=8, mean age <30). Collected pulp tissues were homogenized and ALP activity was determined spectrophotometrically (SpectraMAX Plus, Moleculer Devices, Sunnyvale, CA) and the results expressed as milliunits/ per milligram protein (mU/ mg protein). The differences between the groups analyzed statistically using Mann-Whitney U test at the 95% confidential level.
Results: The recorded ALP activity levels were between (1909,5 ± 245,37 and 1110 ± 296,1). ALP activity in reversible and irreversible pulpitis increased when compared to control group. The differences between reversible pulpitis and control group were statistically significant (p< 0.05).
Conclusions: These results suggest that ALP may have a specific role in the initial pulp response to injury.