Skip to main content
Log in

Ultrastructure of lymphatic capillaries in the human dental pulp

  • Published:
Cell and Tissue Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Occlusal intradentinal cavities, prepared in normal human premolars and third molars to be extracted for orthodontic reasons, were filled for 7 to 11 days with gutta percha. A superficial pulpitis with localized small abscesses developed in the pulp chamber. Under local anesthesia, 0.2 to 0.3 cc of sterile colloidal carbon was injected in the pulp horn and the teeth were extracted 1 to 3 h later. Lymphatic capillaries could thus be identified in the pulpal tissues. They were characterized by a thin endothelium with occasional large intercellular clefts, absence or incompleteness of basement membrane, absence of pericytes, absence of luminal red blood cells, and presence of a filamentous material between the endothelium and the surrounding collagen fibrils. Moreover, some structural variations were observed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Avery, J.K.: Structural elements of the young normal human pulp. Or. Surg. Or. Med. Or. Path. 22, 113–125 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bernick, S.: The lymphatic supply to the human pulp. J. dent. Res. 54 (special issue A), 407, abstract (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Cahen, P.M.: Ultrastructure de la pulpe dentaire humaine normale. Thèse Doct. Sciences Odont. 3ème cycle. Faculté Médecine. Strasbourg (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Cahen, P.M., Frank, R.M.: Microscopie électronique de la pulpe dentaire humaine normale. Bull. Group. Int. Rech. Stomat. 13, 421–443 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Casley-Smith, J.R., Florey, J.W.: The structure of normal small lymphatics. Quat. J. exp. Physiol. 46, 101–106 (1961)

    Google Scholar 

  • Collin, H.B.: The fine structure of growing corneal lymphatic vessels. J. Path. 104, 99–113 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Cotran, R.S., Suter, E.R., Majno, G.: The use of colloidal carbon as a tracer for vascular injury. Vascular diseases 4, 107–127 (1967)

    Google Scholar 

  • Dahl, E., Mjör, I.A.: The fine structure of vessels in the human dental pulp. Acta odont. scand. 31, 223–230 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Dewey, K., Noyes, F.B.: A study of the lymphatic vessels of the dental pulp. Dent. Cosmos 59, 436–444 (1917)

    Google Scholar 

  • Eifinger, F.F.: Die Mikromorphologie der menschlichen Zahnpulpa. München: Carl Hanser, ed. 1970

  • Egelberg, J.: Permeability of the dento-gingival blood vessels. I. Applications of the vascular labelling method and gingival fluid measurements. J. Period. Res. 1, 180–191 (1966)

    Google Scholar 

  • Fish, E.W.: Circulation of lymph in the dentine. Proc. roy. Soc. Med. 18, 35–37 (1925)

    Google Scholar 

  • Fish, E.W.: The lymph supply of the dentine and enamel. Proc. roy. Soc. Med. 20, 225–236 (1927)

    Google Scholar 

  • Frank, R.M.: Reactions of dentin and pulp to drugs and restorative materials. J. dent. Res. 54, 176–187 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Han, S.S., Avery, J.K.: The ultrastructure of capillaries and arterioles of the hamster dental pulp. Anat. Rec. 145, 549–572 (1963)

    Google Scholar 

  • Harris, R., Griffin, C.J.: The ultrastructure of small blood vessels of the normal human dental pulp. Aust. J. Dent. 16, 220–226 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hattyasy, D., Elemer, G., Molnar, E.: Über die Ultrastruktur der Pulpa älterer “Milchmolaren”. Dtsch. zahnärztl. Z. 28, 940–949 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Isokawa, S.: Über das Lymphsystem des Zahnes. Zt. Zellforsch. 52, 140–149 (1960)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kukletova, M.: Submicroscopic structure of blood vessels in the calf dental pulp. Scr. Med. Fac. Med. Brno 43, 109–116 (1970a)

    Google Scholar 

  • Kukletova, M.: An electron microscopic study of the lymphatic vessels in the dental pulp in the calf. Arch. oral Biol. 15, 1117–1124 (1970b)

    Google Scholar 

  • Leak, L.V.: Lymphatic capillaries in tail fin of amphibian larvae: An electron microscopic study. J. Morph. 125, 419–446 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • Leak, L.V., Burke, J.F.: Fine structure of the lymphatic capillary and the adjoining connective tissue area. Amer. J. Anat. 118, 785–810 (1966)

    Google Scholar 

  • MacGregor, A.: An experimental investigation of the lymphatic system of the teeth and jaws. Proc. roy. Soc. Med. 29, 1237–1272 (1936)

    Google Scholar 

  • Magnus, G.: Über den Nachweis der Lymphgefäße in der Zahnpulpa. Dtsch. Mschr. Zahnheilk. 40, 661–666 (1922)

    Google Scholar 

  • Mjör, I.A.: Experimental pulpitis. Norske Tannl. Tids. 82, 268–270 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Noyes, F.B., Ladd, R.L.: The lymphatics of the dental region. Dent. Cosmos 71, 1041–1047 (1929)

    Google Scholar 

  • Riedel, H., Fromme, H.G., Tallen, B.: Elektronenmikroskopische Untersuchungen zur Frage der Kapillarmorphologie in der menschlichen Zahnpulpa. Arch. oral Biol. 11, 1049–1055 (1966)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ruben, M.P., Prieto-Hernandez, J.R., Gott, F.K., Kramer, G.M., Bloom, A.A.: Visualization of lymphatic microcirculation of oral tissues. J. Period. 42, 774–784 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Schweitzer, G.: Über die Lymphgefäße des Zahnfleisches und der Zähne beim Menschen und Säugetieren. Arch. mikr. Anat. 75, 927–999 (1909)

    Google Scholar 

  • Viragh, S.Z., Papp, M., Rusznyak, I.: The lymphatics in oedematous skin. Acta morph. Acad. Sci. hung. 19, 203–213 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Weiss, L.: Lymphatic vessels and lymph nodes. In: Histology (R.O. Greep and L. Weiss, eds.). New York: MacGraw-Hill 1973

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Frank, R.M., Wiedemann, P. & Fellinger, E. Ultrastructure of lymphatic capillaries in the human dental pulp. Cell Tissue Res. 178, 229–238 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00219050

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00219050

Key words

Navigation