Abstract
Fullmer's oxytalan fibers appear to be special connective tissue fibers belonging to elasticsystem fibers and can be histochemically identified in periodontal ligaments (and some non-dentalsites of certain animal species) with aldehyde fuchsin (AF), orcein, and resorcin fuchsin after peraceticacid or Oxone oxidation. However, it is well known that these methods also stain elastin. We havehistochemically investigated the localization of sulfate groups in oxytalan fibers in monkey (Macaca fuscata) periodontal ligaments, using the high iron diamine (HID), Alcian blue (AB, pH 1.0), AB (pH5.8) +0.65 M MgCl2, safranin O, and AF with Oxone or periodic acid (PA) oxidation. After Oxoneoxidation oxytalan fibers intensely stained with HID and AF, weakly stained with AB (pH 1.0) and AB (pH 5.8) +0.65 M MgCl2, and very weakly stained with safranin 0, whereas no staining was observedin oxytalan fibers without Oxone oxidation. These methods except AF did not stain elastin inthe monkey aortic tunica media with or without Oxone oxidation. After PA oxidation oxytalan fibersalso stained weakly to moderately with HID and AF, although this reactivity was not preventedby aldehyde blockage. Thus these studies demonstrate that oxidized oxytalan fibers in monkey periodontalligaments contain sulfate groups and the HID method is a useful tool in studies of oxytalan fibers.
