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Biomedical subjects

R C Shore

Publications and source records attributed to R C Shore.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Fenestrated capillaries in the periodontal ligaments of the erupting and erupted rat molar.

Quantitative ultrastructural studies were conducted on eight rats (four aged 21 days and four aged 8 weeks) using the periodontal tissues around the mesial root of the mandibular first molar. The periodontal ligament of the erupting tooth contained significantly more capillary fenestrations than the erupted tooth, both in terms of the number per unit area of endothelium (2.2/microns2) and in terms of total number per cubic millimetre of tissue (30.5 X 10(6)/mm3). Differences were also discerned with respect to the percentage of capillaries in the tissue. Thus, the periodontal vasculature demonstrates marked morphological changes which may be related to the eruptive phase of the tooth.

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A laboratory method for studying tooth mobility of the mandibular central incisor of the sheep.

Linguolabially directed loads of 0.01 to 1.0 N were applied to a mandibular central incisor in each of 12 four-year-old ewes with healthy mouths. For each incisor, tooth position was monitored continuously with an ultrasonic displacement transducer. On suddenly applying a load and maintaining it for five minutes, a biphasic pattern of displacement was recorded, a phase of rapid displacement being followed by a more gradual one. A similar biphasic recovery response was seen on suddenly removing the load. These patterns are viscoelastic-like. The group mean displacements showed that for all phases the responses were force-dependent, though not linearly graded. For a given load, the group mean displacements were considerably larger than those reported previously for the teeth of other animals, supporting the impression that the sheep incisor is extremely mobile. These data will provide a baseline for studies on the mobility of the teeth of sheep with inflammatory periodontal disease ('broken mouth').

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The effects of preventing movement of the rat incisor on the structure of its periodontal ligament.

A quantitative, ultrastructural study was made on the periodontal ligaments of rat mandibular incisors immobilized for 18 days. Fibroblasts and their organelles (i.e. endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, microtubules, microfilament bundles, lysosomes, intracellular collagen profiles and intercellular contacts), oxytalan fibres, collagen fibrils and ground substance were quantified. There was re-orientation of tissue at the lateral borders of the ligament and an apparent increase in size of epithelial cell rests. Within the matrix, the mean collagen-fibril diameter decreased and the amount of ground substance increased. No change occurred in oxytalan fibres. Within the cells, effects were seen only in cell contacts and in the relative volume of intracellular collagen, lending no support to the view that fibroblast activity generates the force responsible for tooth eruption.

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Fenestrated capillaries in the connective tissues of the periodontal ligament.

A quantitative ultrastructural study was undertaken to assess the number and distribution of fenestrated capillaries in the periodontal ligaments of the rat dentition. Experiments were conducted on four animals using the right mandibular incisors and first molars. For the incisor, analysis was performed in three sites along the length of the periodontal ligament. Regardless of site, there was 0.1 fenestration per micron2 of endothelium. In the basal region, the incisor periodontal ligament contained 3.5 X 10(6) fenestrations per mm3 of tissue whereas more occlusally it contained 1 X 10(6) fenestrations per mm3 of tissue. For the molar, the capillaries showed more fenestrations, 0.4 fenestration per micron2 of endothelium. There were also more per unit volume of tissue, 12 X 10(6) fenestrations per mm3. Thus, the vasculatures of the rat incisor and molar periodontal ligaments exhibit significant numbers of fenestrations which, in the case of the incisor, are not distributed uniformly along its length.

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Histological study, including ultrastructural quantification, of the periodontal ligament in the lathyritic rat mandibular dentition.

A 0.15 per cent solution of aminoacetonitrile was added to the drinking water of young adult male Wistar rats for 18 days. Their right mandibular incisors were maintained unimpeded by frequent trimming. After 18 days, the periodontal ligaments of the right mandibular incisors and first molars were prepared for light and electron microscopy. For control purposes, similar material was obtained from animals fed on a normal diet ad libitum or pair-fed. With light microscopy, lathyritic incisor periodontal ligaments showed areas of normal connective tissue appearance interspersed with areas of degeneration. In the lathyritic molars, cell-free areas were observed. With electron microscopy, quantification of features in the connective tissue regions of the lathyritic ligament showed little change. In cell-free areas, many collagen fibrils had smaller fibril diameters than normal.

Aminoacetonitrile↗

Changes in collagen fibril diameters in a lathyritic connective tissue.

Collagen fibril diameters were measured in molar and incisor periodontal ligaments of adult rats given aminoacetonitrile (0.15% in their drinking water). Fibrils were also measured in the periodontal ligaments of pair-fed control animals and animals fed ad libitum. The lathyrogen produced a significant change in the distribution of fibril diameters in both molars and incisors and an increase in mean fibril diameter in incisors relative to pair-fed controls. The reduced food intake of the pair-fed control group produced a significant decrease in mean fibril diameter in incisors relative to the ad libitum control group. These results that lathyrogens may affect collagen fibril diameters in an adult connective tissue in a manner similar to that previously shown for a fetal tissue.

Aminoacetonitrile↗

A quantitative comparison of the ultrastructure of the periodontal ligaments of impeded and unimpeded rat incisors.

The periodontal ligaments of impeded and unimpeded rat mandibular incisors were examined to find structural correlates for the known functional differences between the tissues. The structures quantified were fibroblasts (area and membrane length, endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, microtubules, lysosomes, intracellular collagen profiles, intercellular contacts), oxytalan fibres, collagen fibrils and ground substance. The only changes seen on rendering a tooth unimpeded were an increase in the number of microtubules within the fibroblasts, an increase in the number of simplified desmosomes between the fibroblasts and a decreased amount of ground substance within the extracellular matrix. The results show that it is possible for a connective tissue to undergo marked changes in function, turnover and biomechanical properties without major structural changes.

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Fibril diameters in the extracellular matrix of the periodontal connective tissues of the rat.

The diameters of collagen fibrils were measured in three varieties of periodontal connective tissue in the rat mandible (incisor periodontal ligament, incisor enamel-related connective tissue and molar periodontal ligament). Despite structural and functional differences between the tissues, a similar range of collagen fibril diameters was seen in each (average 45 nm). Variation between animals and between adjacent fiber bundles in any given tissue was observed. Even within any single fiber bundle, the fibrils had a variety of diameters. Although it has been claimed that collagen fibrils have diameters which are multiples of 8 nm, such a relationship could not be discerned for periodontal collagen fibrils. It was estimated that about 65 per cent of a periodontal collagen fiber bundle or sheet is composed of ground substance. Despite reports of abundant oxytalan fibers in periodontal tissues at the light microscope level, only one fiber having characteristics of oxytalan was observed in this electron microscopic study. Some aspects of the functional significance of the findings are discussed.

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Intercellular contacts between fibroblasts in the periodontal connective tissues of the rat.

The type and number of cell contacts between fibroblasts were studied in three structurally distinct varieties of periodontal connective tissue in the rat mandible (periodontal ligament of the incisor, enamel-related connective tissue of the incisor and periodontal ligament of the molar). Three types of cell contact were observed in all tissues, namely simplified desmosomes, gap junctions and close contacts. When considered in terms of number per 50 micrometer (2), percentage of the membrane profile occupied and mean length, simplified desmosomes in the enamel-related connective tissue of the incisor were significantly higher than in the periodontal ligaments. For gap junctions, the only significant difference found was in the number per 50 micrometer (2) between the two periodontal ligaments. For close contacts the number per 50 micrometer (2) was significantly higher for the periodontal ligament of the incisor than for the other two tissues. However, when considered as a percentage of the membrane profile occupied, the only significant difference remaining was with the enamel-related connective tissue.

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Distribution of exogenous proteins in caries lesions in relation to the pattern of demineralisation.

While it is believed that proteins may protect enamel from demineralisation, recent work has indicated that such material may also hinder remineralisation. For example, albumin will inhibit apatite crystal growth in vitro and is present in carious enamel in vivo. However, it is not clear whether (1) the distribution of proteins within lesions is restricted to specific lesion zones or (2) the origin of such proteins is endogenous (i.e. as a remnant of the developmental process) or exogenous, originating in the saliva or gingival crevicular fluid. The present study used a combination of immunohistochemistry and microradiography to determine the distribution of two proteins, serum albumin and salivary amylase, within natural white-spot carious lesions in relation to specific levels of demineralisation. The results indicated that albumin is found primarily in a region of between 10 and 20% demineralisation (an area of transition between the 'dark' zone and lesion 'body'), with smaller quantities occurring in the region between 0 and 10% demineralisation and trace amounts in the zone indistinguishable from sound enamel by microradiography. A similar distribution was found for amylase in that the heaviest labelling was within the 10-20% demineralisation zone, although little if any was present in the 0-10% zone. The presence of these molecules in a region of the lesion where some potential for reprecipitation may exist will have important implications with respect to lesion progression.

Albumins↗

Effect of experimental fluorosis on the surface topography of developing enamel crystals.

Dental fluorosis is an increasing problem, yet the precise mechanism by which fluoride exerts its effects remains obscure. In the present study, we have used atomic force microscopy to image and quantitate surface features of enamel crystals isolated from specific developmental stages of fluorotic and control rat incisors. The results showed a significant decrease in crystal surface roughness with development in control tissue. Crystals from fluorotic tissue were significantly rougher than controls at all stages of development, did not decrease in roughness during the later stages of their development and had many morphological abnormalities. These data clearly demonstrate an effect for fluoride on enamel crystal surfaces which could reflect changes in the nature and distribution of growth sites and/or in mineral-matrix interactions. These would be expected to affect crystal growth during maturation, resulting in the characteristic porous appearance of fluorotic lesions in mature teeth.

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