Premium
Macrophages and apoptosis in the stellate reticulum of the rat enamel organ
Author(s) -
BARATELLA LIRIANE,
ARANACHAVEZ VICTOR E.,
KATCHBURIAN EDUARDO
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
journal of anatomy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.932
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1469-7580
pISSN - 0021-8782
DOI - 10.1046/j.1469-7580.2000.19720303.x
Subject(s) - basophilic , endoplasmic reticulum , hepatic stellate cell , acid phosphatase , tunel assay , vacuole , electron microscope , apoptosis , pathology , chemistry , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , cytoplasm , biochemistry , medicine , enzyme , physics , optics
Tooth germs of upper first molars of 1, 3, and 5‐d‐old rats, fixed in formaldehyde, were stained for the detection of apoptosis by the TUNEL method, and by the azo‐dye method for the demonstration of acid phosphatase. For conventional light and electron microscopy the specimens were fixed in glutaraldehyde‐formaldehyde and embedded in glycol methacrylate and Araldite. Results showed that macrophages, present in the stellate reticulum, contained basophilic bodies and TUNEL‐positive globules, i.e. apoptotic bodies, in their interior. Macrophages also possessed strong acid phosphatase activity. Electron microscopy showed the presence of large vacuoles inside the macrophages containing dense fragmented material. Taken together these results suggest that the intra‐epithelial macrophages of the stellate reticulum engulf apoptotic bodies.