Premium
Cell contacts in oral epithelia
Author(s) -
Thilander Holger,
Bloom Gunnar D.
Publication year - 1968
Publication title -
journal of periodontal research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.31
H-Index - 83
eISSN - 1600-0765
pISSN - 0022-3484
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0765.1968.tb01909.x
Subject(s) - stratum spinosum , tight junction , stratum corneum , stratum granulosum , epithelium , cell junction , basement membrane , desmosome , anatomy , gap junction , junctional epithelium , chemistry , pathology , biology , intracellular , cell , microbiology and biotechnology , medicine , biochemistry
Biopsies from normal, non‐inflamed buccal gingiva, palatal gingiva, retromolar and upper vestibular mucosa were obtained from 12 adult patients for an electron microscopical investigation of cell contacts in the epithelial layers. The junctional complexes found were desmosomes, tight junctions and intermediate junctions. In parakeratotic or poorly keratinized epithelium (e.g. retromolar and vestibular mucosa, gingiva) the desmosomes maintained their typical appearance in all layers. In highly keratinized epithelium (e.g. palatal gingiva) the structure of the desmosomes changed in the stratum corneum to a three‐layered structure between the thickened cell membranes. The tight junctions were classified as maculac occludentes in the basal layer and the stratum spinosum and as zonulae occludentes in the stratum granulosum and the stratum corneum. The intermediate junctions were rather numerous and of different length. The principal mode of attachment of clear cells to adjoining epithelial cells seemed to be of this type. At the tissue surface the orifices of the intercellular spaces were closed by tight junctions or modified desmosomes. No such junctional complexes were found at the orifices of the intercellular spaces to the basement membrane. In the light of the findings some permeability conditions of oral epithelia are discussed.