Summary
Forming and fractured surfaces of cementum and Sharpey fibre bone were prepared either untreated, or before or after extraction with 1, 2 ethane diamine. The specimens were coated with carbon and gold to prepare them for scanning electron microscopy.
In the mineral front discrete zones of projections and depressions were observed indicating the distribution of Sharpey fibres mineralized to a level above that of the intrinsic matrix (projections), and below it (depressions). The interpretation of these zones as relatively active or inactive areas is discussed, and correlated with the occurence of “microcalcospherites”.
A densely mineralized region bordered by less well mineralized tissue was frequently found in fractured specimens at the cementum-dentine junction.
In the fractured anorganic specimens various degrees of mineralization of the Sharpey fibres were observed, from unfused “microcalcospherites” in rows, to well mineralized fibres with unmineralized cores.
Fine collagen fibrils seen in the walls of developing lacunae were obscured by perilacunar deposition in the mature tissue.
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The Cambridge Scientific Instruments Stereoscan Scanning electron microscope was provided by the Science Research Council (U. K.). The Medical Research Council provided financial support for one of us (S. J. J.) and also for Mr. P. S. Reynolds A. I. S. T., whom we would like to thank for technical and photographic assistance. We are indebted to Mrs. Noel Finney, who kindly typed the manuscript.
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Boyde, A., Jones, S.J. Scanning electron microscopy of cementum and sharpey fibre bone. Z. Zellforsch. 92, 536–548 (1968). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00336664
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00336664