Abstract
The experimental teeth (upper right first molars of adult Wistar rats) were moved in the buccal direction for 4 days by a wire spring and subsequently moved in the lingual direction for 24 and 72hr. The ultrastructual changes and localization of acid phosphatase (ACPase) activity of the osteoblasts were examined in the lingual periodontium (pressure side) of the teeth moved in the experimental periods of 24 and 72hr. The following results were obtained: 1) Osteoblasts in the lingual areas of the periodontium of the 24hr experiment contained autophagic vacuoles in the cytoplasm, while rough-surfaced endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria were reduced. 2) ACPase activity in the osteoblasts adjacent to the bone surface was noted in lysosomes, Golgi apparatus and autophagic vacuoles. The enzyme activity was also present in the lysosomes showing lysosomal wrapping mechanism and in the lysosomes fusing with the vacuoles. 3) The lingual areas of the periodontium in the 72hr experiment were characterized by necrosed tissues and none of the reaction products of the enzyme activity could be found in these areas.
