Summary
The ultrastructural investigation of the human gingivo-dental junction shows that the plasmalemmata of the superficial epithelial cells, coated by numerous hemi-desmosomes, are related to the enamel apatite crystals through a finely granular intercellular space, 400 to 1200 Å in thickness, either directly or through a discontinuous dense cuticle, of irregular thickness, which is attached to the enamel surface of erupted teeth. This cuticle, of none salivary origin, is deposited from the enamel surface to the outside. The epithelial junction is not keratinized, but numerous tonofibrils bundles occur in the cells. A certain tendency toward keratinization was sometimes observed in the crevicular epithelium. Numerous eosinophilic and neutrophilic polymorphonuclear leukocytes, and lymphocytes migrate through the clinically normal crevicular and junctionnal epithelium. Intercellular space dilatations, basement membrane and desmosomes ruptures, important intracellular accumulations of glycogen, multilobulated nuclei and intracellular edemas are also sometimes observed. A serrated rupture between epithelial cells of the junction as well as a rupture between enamel and the most superficial epithelial cells contributes to the deepening of the gingival sulcus.
Résumé
L'étude ultrastructurale de la jonction gingivo-dentaire humaine a permis de montrer que les membranes cytoplasmiques des cellules épithéliales superficielles, revêtues de nombreux hémi-desmosomes, sont en rapport avec les cristaux d'apatite de l'émail par l'intermédiaire d'un espace intercellulaire, de 400 à 1200 Å d'épaisseur, rempli d'un matériel finement granulaire, soit directement soit par interposition d'une cuticule discontinue, d'épaisseur variable, qui est appliquée à la surface de l'émail uniquement sur des dents, ayant effectué leur éruption. Cette cuticule, dont l'origine salivaire peut être exclue, subit une apposition de la surface de l'émail vers la périphérie. L'attache épithéliale n'est pas kératinisée, mais des faisceaux de tonofibrilles sont visibles dans les cellules. Une certaine tendance à la kératinisation a été parfois notée au niveau du sillon gingivo-dentaire. De nombreux polynucléaires éosinophiles et neutrophiles et des lymphocytes migrent à travers la jonction et le sillon gingivo-dentaires cliniquement normaux. Un élargissement des espaces intercellulaires, des ruptures de la membrane basale et des desmosomes, une accumulation parfois importante de glycogène, des noyaux polylobés et des oedèmes intracellulaires y ont également été notés. Enfin une rupture en ≪atimbre poste≫ entre les cellules épithéliales de la jonction, ainsi qu'une rupture entre l'émail et les cellules épithéliales superficielles contribuent à l'approfondissement du sillon gingivo-dentaire.
Similar content being viewed by others
Bibliographie
Bülow, F. A. v., Hjørting-Hansen, E., Ulmawsky, M.: An electron microscopic study of oral mucosal lesions in erythema multiforme exudativum. Acta path. microbiol. scand.66, 145–153 (1966).
Carranza, F. A., Cabrini, R. L.: Histochemical reactions of periodontal tissues. J. Amer. dent. Ass.60, 464–470 (1960).
Cimasoni, G.: L'attauo epitelio-smalto in soggetti normali o i presenza di lesioni iniziali. Atti Convegni Farmitalia. 1er Congr. Int. Acad. Ital. Parodont. Minerva med. 91–101 (1969).
—, Fiore-Donno, G., Held, A. J.: Mucopolysaccharides in human epithelial reattachment. Helv. odont. Acta7, 60–67 (1963).
—, Held, A. J.: Intercellular mucopolysaccharides in human gingival epithelium. Arch. oral Biol.9, 751–762 (1964).
Dewar, M. R.: Observations on the composition and metabolism of normal and inflamed human gingivae. J. Periodont.26, 29–39 (1955).
Frank, R. M., Nalbandian, J.: Ultrastructure of amelogenesis. In: Structural and chemical organization of teeth. (A. E. W. Miles ed.), vol. 1, p. 399–466. New York and London: Academic Press 1967.
Freedman, H. L., Listgarten, M. A., Taichman, N. S.: Electron microscopic features of chronically inflamed gingiva. J. Periodont. Res.3, 313–327 (1968).
Gavin, J. B.: The ultrastructure of the crevicular epithelium of cat gingiva. Amer. J. Anat.123, 283–295 (1968).
Goldman, H. M., Cohen, D. W.: Periodontal therapy, Chapt. 1, p. 1–63. St. Louis: Mosby 1968.
Gottlieb, B.: Der Epithelansatz am Zahne. Dtsch. Mschr. Zahnheilk.39, 142–147 (1921).
Haim, G.: Ultrastruktur der Haftzonen (Desmosomen) gingivaler Epithelzellen. In: Les parodontopathies, 18ème Congr. Arpa, p. 1–7 (Georg ed.). Genève 1966.
Hodson, J. J.: Origin and nature of the cuticula dentis. Nature (Lond.)209, 990–993 (1966).
Ito, H., Enomoto, S., Kobayashi, K.: Electron microscopic study of the human epithelial attachment. Bull. Tokyo med. dent. Univ.14, 267–273 (1967).
Listgarten, M. A.: Electron microscopic study of the gingivo-dental junction of man. Amer. J. Anat.119, 147–178 (1966a).
—: Phase-contrast and electron microscopic study of the junction between reduced enamel epithelium and enamel in unerupted human teeth. Arch. oral Biol.11, 999–1016 (1966b).
—: Electron microscopic features of newly formed epithelial attachment after gingival surgery. J. Periodont. Res.2, 46–52 (1967).
- Observations on the ultrastructure of the epithelial attachment 2 to 8 weeks after gingivectomy. Program and abstracts Int. Ass. Dent. Res. 47th meeting.421 (1969).
Llory, H., Delage, J., Collogny, G. de: Etude optique et électronique du botryomycome de la femme gravide. Ann. Anat. path.14, 213–220 (1969).
Löe, H.: Physiological aspects of the gingival pocket. Acta odont. scand.19, 387–396 (1961).
Löe, H.: The structure and physiology of the dento-gingival junction. In: Structural and chemical organization of teeth (A. E. W. Miles ed.), vol. 2, p. 415–455. New York: Academic Press 1967.
—, Silness, J.: Peridontal disease in pregnancy: I. Prevalence and severity. Acta odont. scand.21, 533–551 (1963).
Michel, C., Frank, R. M.: Surcharge glycogénique des cellules ligamentaires et osseuses au cours des parodontolyses. Parodontologie4, 3–9 (1970).
Miller, F., Harven, E. de., Palade, G. E.: The fine structure of eosinophil leukocyte granules in rodents and in man. J. Cell Biol.31, 349–368 (1966).
Montagna, W.: The structure and function of skin, p. 53–55. New York and London: Academic Press 1962.
Petit, H.: Parodontite Juvénile. Etude clinique. Recherche Ultrastructurale. Paris: J. Prélat 1970.
Petitet, W. F., Stern, I. B.: Comparison of sulcular and oral epithelial surfaces of gingiva. Program and abstracts. 48th meeting. Int. Ass. Dent. Res. 199 (1970).
Powell, R. N.: Gingival tissue physiology in vitro. II. Glycogen storage and utilization. J. Peridont. Res.4, 36–41 (1969).
Rebstein, F.: La jonction entre l'épithelium et l'émail chez l'homme. Parodontologie1, 207–226 (1967).
Schroeder, H. E.: Extraneous cell surface coat in human inflammed crevicular epithelium. Helv. odont. Acta12, 14–26 (1968).
—: Ultrastructure of the junctional epithelium of the human gingiva. Helv. odont. Acta13, 65–83 (1969).
Schultz-Haudt, S. D., From, S.: Perjodsyreschiff metoden, anvendelse og fortolkning når det gjelder menneskelig gingiva. Odont. T.69, 226–246 (1961).
Seeman, P. M., Palade, G. E.: Acid phosphatase localization in rabbit eosinophils. J. Cell Biol.34, 745–756 (1967).
Sharry, J. J., Krasse, B.: Observations on the origin of salivary leukocytes. Acta odont. scand.18, 347–358 (1960).
Shipman, M., Chase, H. B., Montagna, W.: Glycogen in skin of mouse during cycles of hair growth. Proc. Soc. exp. Biol. (N.Y.)88, 449–451 (1955).
Stallard, R. E., Diab, M. A., Zander, H. A.: The attaching substance between enamel and epithelium, a product of the epithelial cells. J. Periodont.86, 130–132 (1965).
Stern, I. B.: The fine structure of the ameloblast-enamel junction in rat incisors: epithelial attachment and cuticular membrane. In: Electron microscopy, 5th Int. Congr. Elect. Microsc. vol. 2: QQ 6. New York and London: Academic Press 1962.
- Further electron microscopic observations of the epithelial attachment. Program and abstracts 45th meet. Int. Dent. Res. 325 (1967).
Sueda, T., Cimasoni, G.: The origin of acid phosphatase in human gingival fluid. Arch. oral Biol.13, 553–558 (1968).
Susi, F. R., Belt, W. D., Kelly, J. W.: Fine structure of fibrillar complexes associated with the basement membrane in human oral mucosa. J. Cell Biol.34, 686–690 (1967).
Thilander, H.: Epithelial changes in gingivitis. J. Periodont. Res.3, 303–312 (1968).
Thonard, J. C., Sherp, H. W.: Histochemical demonstration of acid mucopolysaccharides in human gingival epithelial inter-cellular spaces. Arch. oral Biol.7, 125–136 (1962).
Toto, P. D., Sicher, H.: Mucopolysaccharides in the epithelial attachment. J. dent. Res.44, 451 (1965).
Turesky, S. I., Glickman, I., Litwin, T. A.: Histochemical evaluation of normal and inflamed human gingiva. J. dent. Res.30, 792–798 (1951).
Ussing, M. U.: The development of the epithelial attachment. Acta odont. scand.13, 123–154 (1955).
Waerhaug, J.: The gingival pocket: anatomy, pathology, deepening and elimination. Odont. T.60 (Suppl. 1), 1–186 (1952).
Waterhouse, J. P.: The gingival part of human periodontium: its ultrastructure and distribution in it of acid phosphatase in relation to cell attachment and lysosome concept. Dent. Pract.15, 409–415 (1965).
Wertheimer, F. W., Fullmer, H. M.: Morphologic and histochemical observations of the human dental cuticle. J. Periodont.33, 29–39 (1962).
Wolf, J.: Der gingivo-dentale Verschlußapparat im Bereich des Schmelzes. Dtsch. Zahn-, Mund- u. Kieferheilk.43, 3–22, 106–128, 201–240 (1964).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Frank, R.M., Cimasoni, G. Ultrastructure de l'épithélium cliniquement normal du sillon et de la jonction gingivo-dentaires. Z.Zellforsch 109, 356–379 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02226908
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02226908