Some histological and histochemical observations on the connective tissue of chronically inflamed human gingiva

Abstract

This investigation was undertaken during the tenure of a Research Fellowship in the Institute of Dental Surgery, University of London, and a Leverhulme Research Fellowship in the Department of Dental Science, Royal College of Surgeons of England. Some of the findings were included in a Thesis submitted to the University of London for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy. One hundred and fifty biopsies of human gingiva, removed randomly from patients undergoing gingivectomy, were examined in the light microscope. Cold microtome and paraffin sections were prepared. Eosin, Mallory's PTAH, acid solochrome cyanine and chlorantine fast red, the Gomori aldehyde fuchsin, resorcin fuchsin and orcein methods for elastic fibres, and silver impregnation were used to colour collagen fibres; fibrin was stained by the DMAB method, and mucosubstances by the paS, DMPD, alcian blue and the aldehyde fuchsin methods. All the interdental gingival septa exhibited an ulcerated col. The intercellular substance of the connective tissue was not separated in cold microtome sections, as in paraffin sections, and probably more faithfully reflected the state of the tissue in vivo. However, cell detail in paraffin sections was clearer than in cold microtome sections. The collagen fibres in inflamed connective tissue were found to disintegrate and to lose their affinity for stains with which they usually react, but were not coloured by stains for elastic fibres during the process, nor by the DMAB method. The distribution of neutral and acid mucosubstances was found to overlap in healthy connective tissue. Neutral mucosubstances became less reactive in inflamed areas, but the reactivity of acidic mucopolysaccharides, which could also be demonstrated by two of the three stains used for elastic fibres, increased at the periphery of these areas, and was thought to be associated with fibrogenesis.

Inflammatory changes in gingival collagen in the alloxan‐diabetic rat

“…Although collagen solubility (ratio; soluble/total collagen) was not altered in the AgAh induced gingival lesion, it did contain iess collagen , primarily less insoluble collagen, relative to tissue weight (expressed on a wet weight or dry weight basis). This is consistent with earlier studies demonstrating (1) a reduced hydroxyproline content of inflamed gingiva (Shultz-Haudt & Aas 1960, Flieder, Sun & Schneider 1966, Page 1972, and (11) the disorganization and disintegration of collagen bundles in the area of the inflammatory cell infiltrate, based on histologic observation (Melcher 1967, Sehroeder 1968, Valdrighi 1974. The most iikeiy mechanisms responsible for collagen loss during gingivai inflammation, as reviewed by Page & Schroeder (1973) are: (1) An increased release of specific coliagenases by various cell types in Ihe gingiva known to produce this enzyme, including epithelial cells, fibroblasts, macrophages and neutrophils , Werb & Burliegh 1974, Lazarus et al 1968, Wahl et al 1975, Fig.…”

Necrotizing Ulcerative Gingivitis

“…36 The neutrophil rich, necrotic, and spirochetal infiltration zones are unique to NUG. The histologic appearance of NUG is different from other gingival and periodontal diseases, [37][38][39] but it is complex and may be misleading, as cells associated with chronic lesions such as lymphocytes may be present also. These are probably due in part to a preexisting established gingivitis.…”

Molecular and cell biology of the gingiva

“…Early histochemical studies demonstrated that proteoglycans appeared to be lost from the center of inflammatory foci but were present in higher concentrations around the periphery (126). These early studies implied that, not only did the fibroblasts at the periphery of the inflammatory lesion show an increased capacity to synthesize proteoglycans, but the cells of the inflammatory infiltrate also stained strongly for the histochemical dyes used to locate the proteoglycans (126). Subsequent biochemical analyses of homogenates of inflamed human gingivae demonstrated that the amount of dermatan sulfate decreases while the content of chondroitin sulfate increases.…”