Phagocytic activity of rat molar junctional epithelium against foreign bodies - Ultrastructural observations.:Ultrastructural observations

概要

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In order to demonstrate the phagocytic capacity of the junctional epithelium, three kinds of marker substances; squid ink particles (0.04-0.15 μm in diameter), latex particles (0.312 μm in diameter), ferritin particles (0.012 μm in diameter) were topically applied on the rat molar gingival sulcus. After one or three hours later, localization of these marker substances in the gingival region was examined ultrastructurally. As a result, penetration of these markers into the JE was noted, but the keratinized layer of oral gingival or sulcular epithelium blocked their intraepithelial penetration. In the JE, the small sized-ferritin particles infiltrated into the deeper apical portions of the JE, but the larger sized-particles such as squid ink or latex were localized only in the upper coronal portion of the JE. Some of these marker substances were clearly taken up by the upper coronal JE cells. In the deeper portions of JE, a small number of ferritin particles were also ingested by the JE cells. So, it is suggested that the intercellular junctional apparatus, such as desmosomes or gap junctions might act as a mechanical barrier against the larger sized-particles such as bacteria. The phagocytic capacity of the JE, together with that of polymorphonuclear leukocytes, also appears to play an important role for the defense mechanism against invasion of various kinds of foreign toxic substances from gingival sulcus.
歯科基礎医学会の論文